Star striker Erling Haaland has publicly criticised the lengthy VAR review process after Kylian Mbappe was forced to wait over three minutes before taking a penalty during France’s World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.
The incident, which saw Mbappe’s spot-kick saved, has intensified broader discussions surrounding refereeing standards and perceived biases at the tournament, particularly concerning the appointment of Argentine officials.
Haaland criticises VAR delay
During the quarter-final clash, Mbappe went down in the box following a challenge from Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui. Argentine referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, but the decision was subjected to a protracted VAR review.
Mbappe was left waiting for three minutes and 12 seconds as the VAR team deliberated. Ultimately, the penalty decision stood, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Mbappe’s subsequent effort. The miss meant France headed into half-time with the score still 0-0, though Mbappe later scored a superb goal in the second half to open the scoring.
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Following the game, Erling Haaland voiced his frustration with the delay. On a now-deleted Snapchat post, the Manchester City forward wrote, “Need to wait 5 min to take a penalty is way too long.” This comment, reported by GiveMeSport, highlights a growing concern among players and fans regarding the impact of prolonged VAR interventions on the flow and psychology of the game.
Argentine officials spark wider controversy
The officiating of the France vs Morocco match itself has drawn scrutiny. FIFA appointed an all-Argentine team of officials for the game, including those in the VAR room. This marked the first time in the tournament that all members of an officiating team had hailed from a single nation.
The decision has further fuelled accusations of bias, particularly from Egypt. According to GiveMeSport, Egypt had previously accused FIFA of “rigging” the competition to ensure Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed as far as possible. This accusation stemmed from Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina in the Round of 16, where Egypt had a goal disallowed for a challenge similar to one that went unpunished in the build-up to Enzo Fernandez’s winning goal for Argentina.
While France manager Didier Deschamps downplayed the significance of the all-Argentine officiating team ahead of the quarter-final, the ongoing controversy adds another layer to the already intense rivalry between France and Argentina, especially since France’s defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. The standard of refereeing throughout the tournament has consistently faced heavy criticism amid several high-profile decisions.
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