HITC Football keeps track of every time the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rules out a goal at the World Cup. FIFA also introduced a semi-automated offside system for Qatar 2022.
This winter’s tournament is the second World Cup to feature the use of VAR after its use at Russia 2018. FIFA announced following the 21st edition of its quadrennial tournament four years ago that 455 incidents were checked across the 64 fixtures played with 20 reviewed.
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FIFA has built on its early VAR technology for Qatar 2022 with the implantation of a semi-automatic offside detection system. It uses 12 dedicated cameras to track the ball and all players on the field. Together, the cameras can calculate their exact position on the pitch.
The cameras take recordings 50 times per second and are located underneath the roof of the stadiums being used. In addition, FIFA uses an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor in the core of the football. The IMU transmits data 500 times per second to expedite reviews.
Together, the camera footage and IMU produce an animation for the VAR to review using an automatically selected kick point. The VAR then informs the on-field official of any actions.
And it did not take long for the VAR and semi-automated offside technology to feature at the 2022 World Cup with Ecuador seeing one goal chalked off during the opening game…
Qatar (0) vs (2) Ecuador: VAR rules out a goal in the opening 2022 World Cup game
Round: Group A – Game 1 (20/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Enner Valencia, Ecuador (3’)
Reason: Offside – Felix Torres’ initial challenge fell to Michael Estrada in an offside position
Verdict: Correct decision – While hard to spot, Estrada’s foot was just past the goalkeeper
Argentina (1) vs (2) Saudi Arabia: VAR denies Lautaro Martinez a World Cup goal
Round: Group C – Game 1 (22/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Lautaro Martinez, Argentina (27’)
Reason: Offside – As Martinez leant forward, his shoulder went beyond the last defender
Verdict: Correct decision – FIFA’s semi-automated offside system bailed out the linesman
Germany (1) vs (2) Japan: Kai Havertz thought he had Die Mannschaft’s second
Round: Group E – Game 1 (23/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Kai Havertz, Germany (55’)
Reason: Offside – Havertz stepped beyond the last defender and the ball before scoring
Verdict: Correct decision – Havertz needlessly advanced before scoring an offside tap-in
Wales (0) vs (2) Iran: VAR saves Connor Roberts’ blushes after a horrific square pass
Round: Group B – Game 2 (25/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Ali Gholizadeh, Iran (16’)
Reason: Offside – Gholizadeh had advanced beyond the ball and the last defender
Verdict: Correct decision – Gholizadeh was almost entirely beyond the ball when played
Netherlands (1) vs (1) Ecuador: VAR confirmed the on-field assistant’s initial call
Round: Group A – Game 2 (25/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Pervis Estupinan, Ecuador (45’)
Reason: Offside – Jackson Porozo blocked Andries Noppert’s view from an offside position
Verdict: Correct decision – Porozo did not play the ball but he did obstruct Noppert’s view
Belgium (0) vs (2) Morocco: VAR could not help the Red Devils avoid a defeat
Round: Group F – Game 2 (27/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Hakim Ziyech, Morocco (45’)
Reason: Offside – Romain Saiss obstructed Thibaut Courtois’ sight after edging offside
Verdict: Correct decision – Saiss did not touch the ball as Ziyech’s free-kick went it. But he was marginally beyond the last man as Ziyech crossed in and thought he had the opener.
Croatia (4) vs (1) Canada: VAR rules Kramaric’s goal out at the 2022 World Cup
Round: Group F – Game 2 (27/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Andrej Kramaric, Croatia (25’)
Reason: Offside – Marko Livaja was behind the last defender before he played Kramaric in
Verdict: Correct decision – Kramaric did nothing wrong but Livaja was in an offside position
Brazil (1) vs (0) Switzerland: Vinicius Jr denied the opening goal at Stadium 974
Round: Group G – Game 2 (28/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Vinicius Jr, Brazil (64’)
Reason: Offside – Richarlison came from an offside area to recover the ball in the build-up
Verdict: Correct decision – Richarlison was clearly offside before he ran in to play the ball
Netherlands (2) vs (0) Qatar: Berghuis denied a goal as the VAR spots a handball
Round: Group A – Game 3 (29/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Steven Berghuis, Netherlands (67’)
Reason: Handball – Cody Gakpo handled the ball in the build-up to Berghuis scoring
Verdict: Correct decision – Gakpo did move his arm into the path of the ball to control it
Tunisia (1) vs (0) France: VAR denies Griezmann a late equaliser in a shock defeat
Round: Group D – Game 3 (30/11/2022)
Goalscorer: Antoine Griezmann, France (90+8’)
Reason: Offside – Griezmann came back from an offside position before scoring a volley
Verdict: Correct decision – As the VAR and on-field referee deemed it to be one passage of play, Griezmann’s goal was rightly ruled out after being offside when the cross was made
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