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The penultimate round at 16 games per 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Egypt was characterized not only by special goals, great saves, and fans devoted to their teams. The game also sparked a debate that many people are talking about Video assistant referee, called VARtechnology designed to help referees make fair decisions, but the system has been criticized for favoring certain teams.
Egypt were eliminated from the tournament with a 3-2 defeat Argentinaafter leading by two goals. The Egyptian Football Association argued that The “failure to properly use VAR” affected a number of refereeing decisions that affected the final result. Therefore, it made official protests with FIFA to request an investigation into the alleged inconsistency.
In a statement sent on social media, the Egyptian Football Federation confirmed that “the Egyptian Football Federation cannot remain silent on the decisions of the referee that were seen in the match with Argentina.” A number of experts and researchers, both in this country and in other countries, have reported on the controversial events that affected the performance of the game. This underscores the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency, especially in a competition of the size and importance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Similar complaints—such as goals being disallowed for offside calls that were not called on the field—have continued throughout this year’s World Cup. Some critics say that, despite the use of modern equipment, such games are measured differently with the apparent aim of benefiting the groups of other countries. Some argue that VAR, in addition to disrupting the flow of the game, is a tool that can be used to change referee decisions and, in turn, favor other teams.
Among these discussions, there are several questions. Can VAR technology alone ensure fair decisions? Are these conflicts due to limitations of the system or due to misuse? Have all the players taking part in the 2026 World Cup really been trained to use this assistive device?
VAR was used for the first time in the World Cup at the 2018 tournament in Russia, having been included in the Laws of the Game as “a tool to assist the refereeing team on the pitch,” according to FIFA. Since then, the system has been used in more than 100 tournaments around the world, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The platform has 42 broadcast cameras, eight of which provide slow-motion images and four of which provide slow-motion video. In addition, the system has access to feeds from cameras that use semi-automated technology to detect offsides, as well as all cameras from the FIFA host network.
All this is presented to a panel of judges consisting of a video assistant and three assistants, who individually see different aspects to make a decision on specific situations in which VAR can intervene. Any potential fouls or fouls are reported by the video assistant to the head referee, who receives the on-field footage to see what happens.
In the last two world championships, VAR has assisted the referees in reviewing the goals and errors that lead to the goal; Decisions on the imposition of sanctions and the reasons behind them; straight red cards; and unknown cases.
About this edition of the World CupFIFA has added new criteria for review. Instead, VAR can now intervene to correct wrongful second yellow cards and prevent unfair sending offs. In addition, the system helps detect blocks, tackles, offsides, or offensive fouls before taking a free kick or corner kick.
Armando Archundia, former referee of the World Cup in Mexico, adds in an interview with WIRED en Español that the equipment was also included to detect errors related to the so-called Prestianni-Vinícius Rule, which punishes players with a direct red card for covering their mouth with their hand, their arm, or avoiding contact with the jersey in the corner. to push.
