ITV's Lee Dixon and Peter Walton disagreed over VAR 's role as France took the lead against England in their World Cup quarter-final clash.
Ex-Arsenal defender Dixon appeared to suggested that the off-site officiating team should've told Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio to look back on a potential foul for England after Bukayo Saka went down 45 seconds before Aurelien Tchouameni lashed the ball beyond Jordan Pickford, giving the French a slender half-time advantage.
Former Premier League referee Walton, however, wasn't convinced, claiming that Three Lions star Saka went down too easily after a tussle with France's Dayot Upamecano. Dixon began by saying after Tchouameni's long-range effort hit the back of the net: "It's a great strike, it really is, but it looked like a foul at the other end of the pitch to me.
"I'd like to see that one again, on Saka, Upamecano. Referee waves play on and from there, we've missed it." ITV's co-commentator added: "As it goes in midfield they try to win the ball back then he's away again, too much space.
"[England] have to close the ball down, they don't, then when it goes square, gets it out of his feet. Pickford, it's a long way out but it goes through the legs, Jude Bellingham, sees it late and they've paid the price, England."
Then consulted to give his verdict on the situation, as VAR evidently saw no foul that was of consequence to the goal, Walton argued: "They could've gone back and looked at it, in fact I think they did because it was the same attacking phase of play that France won the ball to the goal being scored.
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"The issue is, was it a foul? I don't think it was because he’s gone down very easily on the slightest of touches. We've not actually seen the replays but that's my opinion, he's gone down too easily for the VAR to say he made a clear and obvious error."
As for the rest of the game, England started nervously which gave France confidence to push forward in search of an early goal. After a few scares for Gareth Southgate and co, Tchouameni fired Les Blues in front on the 17-minute mark. The Real Madrid midfielder took aim from outside the penalty area and blasted a left-footed shot into the outstretched Pickford's bottom corner.
The Three Lions responded well and thought that they should've had a penalty when Harry Kane was this time brought down by Upamecano. VAR had a lengthy look but appeared to deem that the incident occurred outside of the box. Even after seeing that it was a clear foul, however, a free-kick wasn't given due to VAR only being able to intervene for red cards and penalties.
