The VAR and the SAOT: How the new technology works in Qatar 2022 that charged a penalty for Messi’s first goal

Perhaps Lionel Messi’s most anticipated World Cup debut. And the dream for him. After seven minutes of play, even with the teams still settling in on the playing field, the Argentine team had a technological penalty in their favor that the ’10’ turned into a goal to celebrate for the seventh time in a World Cup victory Momentary shot of Argentina against Saudi Arabia for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The controversial referee Slavko Vincic awarded a penalty to Lautaro Martínez after a grab inside the area after a corner kick. In the first instance he had not seen it, but they called him from the VAR booth and he did not hesitate to review the play on the monitor next to the playing field.

After determining that there was a foul, he made the gesture of having reviewed the VAR and pointed to the penalty spot. Leo Messi took the ball, placed it in the right place and finished off calmly to make it 1-0 momentarily for the Albiceleste.

The ’10’, captain and leader in the cast of Lionel Scaloni, was also “affected” by technology in Qatar. In one play he put the second of the game; However, SOAT, that system that detects offsides in a thousandth of a second, he made them not take away the celebration.

In addition, the ball will have an inertial measurement unit (IMU) inside it, which will send a data packet 500 times per second to the video room, which will make it possible to detect with absolute precision the exact moment in which the one who hits the ball.

This data is then instantly transmitted to a AVAR (helper or video assistant) specifically offside to verify and make his recommendation to the VAR and, finally, to the main referee who is on the field.

The Qatar World Cup Quietly it can be the World of technology. Although FIFA determined that for the tournament the VAR audios will not be published during the competition, what is sought is that the technology supports referee decisions almost instantly during the game.

It is not the first time that VAR or its cousins ​​have been present in a World Cup. In Russia 2018 it was used 20 times and all were decisive. Below we review each of the situations in which the technology was used in the past World Cup.

Russia and the influence of VAR

In the last edition (Russia 2018) technology was used for the first time in a World Cup. The VAR was used 20 times and one had the Peruvian team as the protagonist. What is striking is that 19 times they were in the group stage and only once in the final instance: in the final between France and Croatia.

Portugal vs. Spain – Date 1 of Group B: In the middle of the game that ended 3-3 with Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick, referee Gianluca Rocchi was told from the VAR that there was no foul by Diego Costa on Pepe, so the 1-1 action had been validated.

France-Australia – Date 1 of Group C: At the start of the second half, a run by Antoine Griezmann ended with a trip just as he entered the penalty area. In the first instance the game continued, but seconds later the Uruguayan referee Andrés Cunha consulted the VAR. After viewing the replay, he did not hesitate to signal the penalty point and Griezmann did not forgive to put France ahead.

Peru vs. Denmark – Date 1 of Group C: Christian Cueva was brought down in the area, so referee Bakary Gassama (Gambia) decided to use VAR to signal the penalty. However, ‘Aladdin’ wasted an unbeatable opportunity. The duel ended up winning the Danish team. A defeat that still hurts us.

Costa Rica vs. Serbia – Date 1 of Group E: The Senegalese Malang Diedhiou requested VAR assistance to determine the color of the card for a possible elbow from Aleksandar Prijović against an opponent and finally decided to show yellow.

Sweden vs. South Korea – Date 1 of Group G: Minwoo Kim took Claesson ahead inside the box. Joel Aguilar awarded the maximum penalty after consulting the VAR, although in principle he did not indicate the action.

Russia vs. Egypt – Date 1 of Group A: Mo Salah was entering the area and was held by the shoulder. Enrique Cáceres considered that the foul was outside the area, but before the Egyptian protest he requested the review and the assistants observed that the Liverpool player had already crossed the line, for which he sanctioned a penalty against the locals.

Iran vs. Spain – Date 2 of Group B: The Spaniards led 1-0 thanks to a goal by Diego Costa, but in the second half Ezatolahi equalized for the Iranians. However, the VAR verified that it was offside and the goal was annulled. The main referee was the Uruguayan Cunha.

Denmark vs. Australia Date 2 of Group C: The Danes took the lead thanks to a goal from Eriksen but Australia equalized from the penalty spot after a hand ball from Yussuf Poulsen inside the area that Spain’s Mateu Lahoz signaled and Jedinak converted in the final 1-1.

Brazil vs. Costa Rica – Date 2 of Group E: The match’s main referee, Björn Kuipers, awarded Brazil a penalty after an alleged foul on Neymar. After using VAR to replay the play, he reversed his decision. It ended up being an indirect shot for Costa Rica. It was the first time that technology made a decision roll back to the referee in the World Cup.

Nigerian vs. Iceland – Date 2 of Group D: The referee didn’t see it but the VAR did: Ebuehi’s reckless penalty on Finnbogason. Then Sigurðsson was unable to score the goal, sending his shot over the goal.

Belgium vs. Tunisia – Date 2 of Group G: Eden Hazard went down due to the lack of a Tunisia defender and based on each replay it looked different if he had been brought down inside or outside. However, the Salvadoran referee Juan Francisco Zumba, after consulting him, indicated a maximum penalty.

Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt – Date 3 of Group A: After reviewing the initial decision of the Colombian Wilmar Roldán, the VAR decided to award a penalty on Fahad Al Muwallad by Ali Gabr, who saw the yellow card. Salman Al Faraj converted the maximum penalty into a goal.

Portugal vs. Iran – Date 3 of Group B: The match where technology was used the most – led by the Paraguayan Enrique Cáceres – began with a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo inside the area that had not been penalized, but the referee asked for the technology for the first time that night to repair his mistake.

Portugal vs. Iran – Date 3 of Group B: Again with CR7 as the protagonist. An elbow from him almost left him without a World Cup. If there had been a more rigorous judge, he could have meant a red card and not just the yellow one.

Portugal vs. Iran – Date 3 of Group B: It was a penalty that put the Portuguese in check. This time in the area of ​​the Portuguese, a very doubtful hand that led to the maximum penalty and the Iranian tie that ended CR7’s chances of finishing first in the group.

Spain vs. Morocco – Date 3 of Group B: The goal that meant the first place for La Roja, since the goal that had been invalidated due to Aspas’ supposed advanced position was finally penalized and thus Spain achieved 2-2. The main referee: the Uzbek Ravshan Irmatov

Mexico vs. Sweden – Date 3 of Group F: The Argentine Néstor Pitana reviewed a possible handball by Chicharito Hernández in a control of the ball inside the area but decided not to award a penalty.

South Korea vs. Germany – Date 3 of Group F: The party of the German debacle. Mark Geiger requested the review of Kim Young-Gwon’s first goal against Germany for an alleged offside, which it was not. It was the 1-0 that ended in 2-0 in favor of the Asians.

Colombia-Senegal – Date 3 of Group H: An alleged foul led to the VAR request after the referee charged a penalty. After the repetition, it was clear that he had only touched the ball. The infraction was not penalized.

France vs. Croatia – Final: Ten minutes from the end of the first part of the World Cup final, the VAR decreed Ivan Perisic’s hand after a corner from France. Then, the Argentine referee Néstor Pitana sanctioned the penalty: Griezmann took advantage of it for the partial 2-1.

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