Soccer Football - World Cup - Group B - Iran vs Portugal - Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia - June 25, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is shown a yellow card by referee Enrique Caceres REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - A foul on Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal's Group B clash against Iran on Monday resulted in a record 19th penalty at the World Cup before the knockout rounds.
The Portugal forward was brought down in the box shortly into the second half in Saransk, with the penalty awarded by use of the video assistant referee (VAR).
Although Ronaldo's spot kick was saved by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, the decision eclipsed the previous record tally of 18 penalties awarded set at the 2002 World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea.
Soccer Football - World Cup - Group B - Iran vs Portugal - Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia - June 25, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo REUTERS/Murad Sezer
In Brazil four years ago, there were only 13 penalties in the entire tournament.
The use of the VAR has contributed hugely to the spike, and it was employed earlier on Monday to award a penalty to Saudi Arabia's Salman Al-Faraj in their Group A match against Egypt.
Al-Faraj's penalty was the second awarded in the match, which Saudi Arabia won 2-1.
Soccer Football - World Cup - Group B - Iran vs Portugal - Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia - June 25, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo as Iran's Ramin Rezaeian and Morteza Pouraliganji react before a red card decision was referred to VAR REUTERS/Matthew Childs
Saudi Arabia's Fahad Al-Muwallad was given a penalty after a foul in the box in the 39th minute but his effort was saved by the keeper.
(Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Soccer Football - World Cup - Group B - Iran vs Portugal - Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia - June 25, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is shown a yellow card by referee Enrique Caceres REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesSoccer Football - World Cup - Group A - Saudi Arabia vs Egypt - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia - June 25, 2018 Saudi Arabia's Salman Al-Faraj scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Darren Staples Soccer Football - World Cup - Group G - England vs Panama - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 24, 2018 England's Harry Kane scores their second goal from a penalty REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYSoccer Football - World Cup - Group A - Saudi Arabia vs Egypt - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia - June 25, 2018 Egypt's Essam El-Hadary saves a penalty from Saudi Arabia's Fahad Al-Muwallad (hidden) REUTERS/Damir SagoljSoccer Football - World Cup - Group A - Saudi Arabia vs Egypt - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia - June 25, 2018 Saudi Arabia's Fahad Al-Muwallad misses a chance to score from the penalty spot as Egypt's Essam El-Hadary saves REUTERS/Darren Staples
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