Edinson Cavani furiously knocked over the VAR monitor screen with a punch after Uruguay were eliminated from the World Cup.
Two goals from Giorgian De Arrascaeta secured the South American nation a 2-0 win over Ghana at the Al Janoub Stadium, but South Korea 2-1 comeback victory over Portugal left both teams tied on four points, and with the same goal difference. However, South Korea sneaked through having scored four goals compared to Uruguay’s two.
However there was a hugely contentious penalty decision late on in Uruguay’s win as they were denied a penalty as Cavani went down under a challenge inside the area. Referee Daniel Siebert waved away the appeal before minutes later blowing for full-time, only to be surrounded by a swarm of angry Uruguay players.
The incident came after Liverpool hotshot Darwin Nunez was taken down by Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey inside the Ghana box. The German official, who'd waved play on, was told by VAR to review his original decision on the pitch-side monitor - but Siebert refused to overturn his call. His firm doubling down left Uruguay enraged and, for them, it was about to get worse.
Cavani went down under Alidu Seidu’s challenge inside the area with the game deep into stoppage time and Uruguay desperately chasing a goal to keep their competition hopes alive. While there appeared to be contact and a clumsy challenge, Cavani had appeared to step across the defender to initiate contact.
Siebert booked Cavani for dissent amid the post-match drama, as well as Uruguay defender Jose Maria Gimenez, before making his way down the tunnel. However, the referee was followed by a host of furious Uruguayan players.
Have Your Say! Should Cavani and Uruguay have been awarded a late penalty ? Tell us what you think here.
Among them was Cavani – who left Manchester United over the summer to join Valencia – who was visibly seething with the outcome of the match, fuelled by frustration that he had been denied a late penalty that he and Uruguay thought should have been awarded.
As he made his way off the pitch and down the tunnel, he walked past the VAR screen on the sidelines before furiously punching the screen – knocking it over before he stormed off down the tunnel and out of view.
Former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino said on BBC Sport of the penalty incident after the game: "Sure, for me it is a penalty. It was clever from him to wait for the challenge."
Ex-England striker Alan Shearer concurred: "It is a penalty. There is no anticipating what VAR is thinking." Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand added: "There is contact, it is a penalty. Normally they would send the referee to go and have a look. They could not have seen the pictures we saw."
