Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has called for a change to the way VAR is used after a series of controversial incidents at this year's World Cup.
Those controversies started in the very first game when Ecuador had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR, though it took until much later in the game to see that decision was correct. England were then denied a penalty despite Harry Maguire being wrestled to the ground by an Iran defender.
To add insult to injury, Iran themselves were awarded a late spot-kick in that game by the VAR after John Stones pulled an attacker's shirt. And Halsey believes that those in the stadiums or watching on TV must now be able to hear the conversations had between VAR and the referees.
"Everyone was watching the Qatar versus Ecuador game live and saw the goal go in, and I don’t think anyone saw anything wrong," he told BETDAQ.
"You’re looking at it and you just think ‘that’s the opening goal of the tournament, no problem!’ Then the officials start looking for the offside and nobody in the stadium knows what’s going on! Was it a foul? Was it a high boot?
"I think the time is coming where we need to hear the conversation between referee and VAR. We have to hear it; everyone needs to know what is going on. Fans and pundits may not like the outcome of decisions but at least we know what they’re looking at, how they got there, and why they’re giving it.
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"We hear it all the time in rugby and in cricket – everybody knows what’s going on. We’re in 2022, so it should be happening in the number one sport in the world too."
Halsey, who refereed in the Premier League for 14 years, was particularly unhappy with the actions of Raphael Claus, who took charge of England's win over Iran. He believes that Claus should have been more consistent in his decision-making.
"In the game against Iran, I have to say, the referee is in a perfect position when Harry Maguire gets rugby tackled, he has to see that incident! For me, it was an absolutely clear penalty," he added.
"I’m amazed he didn’t give it nor that the Paraguayan VAR team didn’t recommend a review. All we ask for is consistency within that 90 minutes – did we get that? No we didn’t.
"I don’t think VAR should have intervened with the John Stones incident at the end of the game because it wasn’t a clear and obvious error, whereas the rugby tackle on Harry Maguire was. They should have got involved in that incident, but not the Stones one.
"I’m sure that the referee’s committee, when they sit down in the classroom to review the footage for training and education, will examine those two incidences and the question will be asked ‘how can we not give the first one but give the second one? Why has the referee not seen that?’ The referee at this level has to identify that and the penalty kick."
