Instant replay does a lot of good. It allows officials to go back and make the right call in a questionable situation, and it can also keep matches fair. VAR in the FIFA World Cup has been largely unobtrusive to this point, but that ended during Spain's 1-0 win over Iran. On the seventh day of the World Cup and its sixth use, VAR reared its ugly head to wipe off an equalizing goal for Iran, ruling that it was offside on the free kick entry.
Iran thought they had equalized but VAR ruled it was offside! pic.twitter.com/CObtXL78Sq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2018
As you can hear in that clip, there's a lot to unpack. While the linesman did have his flag up, it came up extremely late. In addition, the call itself comes down to the head official. The head referee didn't follow the assistant referee's call, which is why the play went to VAR, eventually overturning the call to an offside in agreement with the linesman. It's worth noting that eventually the right call was made and the goal was disallowed.
None of that matters, however. We're at a point where everyone not from Spain is rooting for the underdog Iran. Which means that VAR is officially bad.
Everyone who likes VAR is a cop
— Maxi Rodriguez (@FutbolIntellect) June 20, 2018
a VARy, VARy big decision there
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) June 20, 2018
Iran waiting for the VAR decision...#IRNESP pic.twitter.com/R0R4L0QV69
— Goal (@goal) June 20, 2018
VAR breaks #IRN hearts though. pic.twitter.com/cPHz2gisL2
— COPA90 US (@COPA90US) June 20, 2018
I hate VAR when it works against the result I want I don’t care that it was the right call #WorldCup
— World Cup Tweets Only Until July 16 (@TheKaylaKnapp) June 20, 2018
VAR better watch his back
— Kirsten Schlewitz 🇷🇸 (@kdschlewitz) June 20, 2018
Has anyone considered the possibility that VAR might not be great?
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) June 20, 2018
Spain is, of course, praising the gods for VAR right now, and this will undoubtedly spawn some discussion. With how scientifically VAR looks at offside calls -- and it is incredibly scientific -- debates over whether VAR reviews of it go against the spirit of the rule may start to emerge.
It's perhaps worse for those watching that this goal kept Spain ahead. It's hard not to wonder what the reaction would be if the roles were reversed.