The video assistant referee causes controversy every week, whether it be the Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup, but now we have a 104-game FIFA men's World Cup to cover, so how are the decisions made this summer and are they correct?
For the tournament, we are looking at the major incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of VAR protocol and the laws of the game.
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a World Cup matchday.
Mexico 2-3 England
Referee: Alireza Faghani
VAR: Nicolás Gallo Barragán
Time: 54 minutes
Incident: VAR overturn: Possible red card for serious foul play
What happened: England's Jarell Quansah flew into a challenge on Jesús Gallardo, seemingly catching Gallardo late. No decision on the field by the referee.
VAR decision: The VAR didn't take too long to send the referee to the pitch-side monitor once he had seen the replays. The VAR was uncomfortable with the speed at which Quansah was challenging and the point of contact with Gallardo's shin. Once at the screen, the referee agreed with the VAR judgment and sent Quansah off for a dangerous tackle.
VAR review: The on-field decision is always the starting point for any VAR review, and only if there is clear video evidence on the replays that an obvious error has been made will the VAR recommend a review.
In this incident, the VAR clearly felt there was enough doubt that any contact by the keeper was not the key factor in Kane going to ground, and therefore did not intervene.
Verdict: A clear red card challenge by Quansah and a good use of VAR. The nature of this challenge met all the criteria for a red card; speed, intensity and high contact all endangered the safety of his opponent, and Quansah was rightly sent off.
Time: 58 minutes
Incident: Penalty to England
What happened: Anthony Gordon broke into the Mexican penalty area and was brought down by the Mexican keeper Raúl Rangel, and a penalty was awarded by the on-field referee.
Mexico keeper Raúl Rangel catches Anthony Gordon and it's a PENALTY awarded to England!
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 6, 2026
CHAOS IN MEXICO CITY 😱 pic.twitter.com/1FRyWW69ER
VAR decision/review: A straightforward review for the VAR, who checked and cleared the on-field decision of a penalty.
Verdict: A correct decision by the referee to award a penalty kick, and as straightforward as they come. Any questions about the challenge denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity were unfounded. Gordon's touch took the ball away from the goal before being fouled by the Mexico keeper. Penalty and no sanction for the keeper was the correct outcome.
Time: 68 minutes
Incident: VAR overturn: Possible penalty to Mexico
What happened: As Harry Kane attempted to clear the ball from his own penalty area, he seemingly kicked the boot of Mexico's Brian Gutiérrez instead of playing the ball. In real-time, the referee waved away the Mexican appeals for a penalty.
VAR decision: The VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible penalty to Mexico.
ANOTHER PENALTY 🤯
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 6, 2026
This play from Harry Kane was ruled a pen after a VAR check pic.twitter.com/sIBYimZqR3
VAR review: The VAR took time to review the replays of this challenge by Kane, as he needed to consider if the England captain had played the ball or if the kick on his opponent met the threshold for a foul to be awarded. The VAR was clear that Kane did not play the ball and that a penalty should be awarded. Once at the screen, the referee agreed with his VAR and awarded a penalty to Mexico.
Verdict: England will feel this is a harsh decision, given the dynamics of the challenge by Kane, who clearly felt he had played the ball simultaneously when making contact with the Mexico attacker. This scenario would have resulted in no intervention from the VAR.
However, this is a difficult situation as a VAR; when you are presented with facts, you have little choice other than to act, unless context allows you otherwise. And once the replays were viewed in this situation, the VAR cannot unsee the clear fact that Kane does not make contact on the ball and he kicks the bottom of the Mexico attacker's boot, and a penalty was always going to be the outcome.
