The VAR World Cup: Russia 2018, the biggest penalty shot in history and fewer red cards since 1978

"VAR! VAR!" VAR! VAR! "Football has changed forever: in the stadiums of the 2018 Russia World Cup, fans began to sing this badertion whenever there was a questionable game that hurt their team as if it were the most important anthem VAR VAR In the end, the technology did not only affect the game: also the songs of those who attended the clbades, who reacted and moved around. a computer.

There was almost no great injustices the 2018 Russia World Cup. In fact, the controversy that took place had to do with the sequences in which the referees decided to not to resort to technology.

At the meeting between Brazil and Switzerland, referee César Arturo Ramos decided not to use VAR against a dubious game that then seemed obvious.Zuber pushed defender Miranda to get his head.Mark Geiger, in the match between Colombia and England, left doubts about the criteria that he used for some games He ignored a kick in the head of Falcao, for example, and cut a game that could have resulted in a goal in favor of the Tricolor.

Beyond the contexts, the VAR had a more than direct impact on Russia 2018. This is confirmed by the numbers. This is the World Cup with the most sanctioned penalties in history, with 28. Therefore, he charged a foul of twelve meters almost every two games. The reason seems quite logical. The main feature of the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is that it is asked when the referee considers that an action was questionable for his criteria or what he could observe. Before that, in the group stage of this tournament, it was asked in 20 occasions.

The 28 penalties imposed in Russia far outweigh the second mark: in 1990, 1998 and 2002 they were sanctioned 18. The ranking continues World Cups 1986 and 2006, with 16. The most number down if only editions since 1966 are taken into account is Mexico 1970, with five.

"The appearance of the VAR undoubtedly affected the referees, obviously without using it, but knowing the experiences of the champions, they told me that the VAR is not a relaxation, but knowing that there is a system that defends our decisions, but does not take them directly, "he told Goal. Nicolás Lamolina, referee of the first division of Argentine football. He added: "The question of the sanctions is clear: the main actors still do not badimilate the presence of the VAR and make mistakes that the human eye can escape, but that" the eye "d & # 39; A camera does not do. "

That makes noise to do with red cards. Russia 2018 has the lowest number since 1970, with four (in this tournament they went before the end Carlos Sanchez, in Colombia against Japan, Jerome Boateng, in Germany against Sweden, Igor Smolnikov, in Russia against the 39, Uruguay, and Michael Lang, Switzerland vs. Sweden). The previous lowest number is that of the 1978 World Cup, with three. The 2006 World Cup has the highest number, with ¡28! They follow it France 1998, with 22, Korea Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010, with 17.

With the yellows, the trend changes a little. In Russia in 2018 there were 213. This is not the highest number, but it is in the top ranking. The record has Germany 2006, the world's dirtiest World Cup, with 307. Followed by France 98, with 249.

Article continues below [19659004] "In this aspect, I think that the players have noticed the presence of the VAR and are much more cautious and in this aspect, the referee and the show in general, it benefits, because it n & nbsp; There is not much brusqueness and allows a much more colorful game, "commented Lamolina

" The VAR brings more justice, for example, the final between Germany and the Netherlands begins with a penalty for a foul (to Johan Cruyff) that takes place outside the zone, the VAR has not been indicated, matches are more real, "said Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, a member of the FIFA Technical Studies Group.

In this World Cup, beyond the somewhat forced propaganda of FIFA all speak well of the VAR, there is no complaint. Leaders, coaches and players have enjoyed a competition in which no one can get what they deserve.