France have progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup, despite suffering a shock defeat to Tunisia – a result which perhaps should not have stood following yet more VAR controversy.
Wahbi Khazri’s goal was enough for Tunisia to pick up a 1-0 victory on Wednesday against a much-changed France team. The north African side were good value for their win, which came in dramatic circumstances after Antoine Griezmann saw a 98th-minute equaliser chalked off by VAR.
Griezmann volleyed home after a poor clearance from the otherwise rock-solid Tunisian defence. The defending champions celebrated keeping their unbeaten record at the World Cup, only for referee Matthew Conger to consult VAR and eventually rule it out for an offside in the build-up.
That decision in itself was contentious, given it centred on the subjective decision of whether Tunisian defender Montassar Talbi’s attempted clearance was a "deliberate play”. Griezmann was initially in an offside position when Aurelien Tchouameni played the ball into the box, but he only became active once Talbi touched the ball.
The VAR officials evidently decided Talbi wasn’t in control of his header and therefore it wasn’t a “deliberate play” of the ball. That is hugely subjective – and, had it mattered more to France, they may well have protested that call.
But the French media was quick to seize upon a less subjective area of the law which says a goal cannot be disallowed, by VAR or other means, after kick-off is taken. In the confusion after Griezmann’s goal, play had been restarted, meaning VAR should not have then been able to intervene.
The laws on the FA website and IFAB website, which explain VAR usage, state: “If play has stopped and restarted, the referee may only undertake a 'review', and take the appropriate disciplinary sanction, for mistaken identity or for a potential sending off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).”
In the event, it mattered little. France went through as Group D winners and will play Poland in the last 16, while Tunisia went out despite their historic victory. But the ruled out goal does appear to be another case of VAR confusion.
France didn’t seem angry about it in their post-match interviews. Instead the focus was on a poor performance after Didier Deschamps made nine changes to his side, who had already progressed before the game, with wins over Australia and Denmark.
“I hate losing,” said France defender Ibrahima Konate. “I can’t say there were too many changes – if we’re here today, we can’t go with that excuse.
“We weren’t at the level required, we were too wasteful. We need to concentrate on the next game, come together and forget this little error.”
