A drab Russia-Spain game was nearly sparked to life during extra time after it appeared Sergio Ramos was brought down in the penalty box during a set piece. The match official paused the game for a moment to give VAR time to assess the play before the game resumed with no penalty given. With the game being in Russia, pretty much everyone had the same thought… The VAR room is not secure enough to give a 114th minute penalty against Russia, no — Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) July 1, 2018 Ref had to balance making the right decision against his ability to touch car door handles with confidence for rest of life — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 1, 2018 Putin was standing behind the VAR officials with a Polonium Sandwich. — Captain Obvious (@HashtagObvious) July 1, 2018 113th minute…Spain player goes down in the box…you’re the referee…Putin watching from the stands….yeahhh about that penalty…….. — VUJ (@DavidVujanic) July 1, 2018 Putin was about to call in a drone strike on the penalty review booth — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) July 1, 2018 Can’t believe Putin didn’t give that penalty #SPARUS — Richard Osman (@richardosman) July 1, 2018 Putin had to be in the VAR office — Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) July 1, 2018 Putin Executive Decision on that VAR. — The Boi (@ChuBoi) July 1, 2018 Just checking with VAR who are just checking with Putin… — Justin Moorhouse (@justinmoorhouse) July 1, 2018 the VAR review was just message from Putin saying he knows where all their families live — Billie (@Billie_T) July 1, 2018 Putin stepped in and said, yeah you aren't reversing that in my country — Tass (@FaZeTass) July 1, 2018 The non-call proved to be decisive. The game would go on to penalty kicks where Russia would prevail 4-3.<doc-sep>SOCIAL media was quick to Putin the boot after a controversial VAR verdict robbed Spain against Russia. The World Cup hosts reached the quarter-finals on penalties - after Ilya Kutepov escaped punishment despite grabbing Spanish defender Sergio Ramos in the area with the tie locked at 1-1 deep into extra time. 4 Sergei Ignashevich, centre, tangled with Sergio Ramos late in extra time with the score at 1-1 but VAR ruled no penalty Credit: AP:Associated Press And Twitter more than hinted at a conspiracy once referee Bjorn Kuipers waved away Spain's heated protests. Memes with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the VAR room poured in. One of the more diplomatic tweets said: "VAR not giving a penalty against Russia with 5 minutes to go? Nothing dodgy about that AT ALL." Another armchair follower, jokingly perhaps, tweeted: "Refs family is probably been held hostage in a a cave somewhere in Siberia." 4 VAR referee in Moscow sees no Spanish penalty #sparus pic.twitter.com/TXtZcnnR3L — tom jamieson (@jamiesont) July 1, 2018 Is Mr Putin operating VAR !? — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 1, 2018 And one supporter suggested: "There is no way VAR goes against Russia in overtime in Russia." Another tweeter slammed BBC pundits for neglecting the incident. He said: "Spain denied penalty despite VAR. Russia still under doping suspicions. @GaryLineker and his fellow BBC pundits reaction? Can't get their noses far enough up the Russians collective a**e. And we have no option but to pay for these idiots." But others blamed wily Spain veteran Ramos for setting a bad example - claiming he regularly pulled at players in the box - and claimed the clash was 50:50. Russia celebrate as Iago Aspas' penalty is saved in dramatic World Cup shootout with Spain Cesc Fabregas looks on in disbelief as Russia fans celebrate knocking Spain out of the World Cup on penalties VAR not giving a penalty against Russia with 5 minutes to go? Nothing dodgy about that AT ALL. pic.twitter.com/R7eOk5yhEn — HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 1, 2018 The VAR room is not secure enough to give a 114th minute penalty against Russia, no — Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) July 1, 2018 That is what Ramos does every time when it’s reversed and he latched onto defender. No penalty — Jeremy Small (@JeremyASmall) July 1, 2018 Russian fan downs pint of beer as they celebrate beating Spain on penalties and progress to World Cup quarter-finals 4 Russia celebrate their shootout victory as they reach the quarter-finals in controversial style Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Sergio Ramos looks a broken man as Spain exit despite dominating possession Credit: Getty - Contributor Refs family is probably been held hostage in a cave somewhere in Siberia — Callum (@CallumAVFC__) July 1, 2018 Spain denied penalty despite VAR. Russia still under doping suspicions. @GaryLineker and his fellow BBC pundits reaction? Can’t get their noses far enough up the Russians collective a**e. And we have no option but to pay for these idiots — Mike Newman (@MikeNewman6) July 1, 2018<doc-sep>To every football fan's surprise, Russia managed to do the unthinkable and dump Spain out of the World Cup. The host nation's shootout victory against the winners of 2010 was yet another upset in a tournament full of them, and despite Spain boasting the likes of Diego Costa, Isco, David Silva, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos and David de Gea, they were unable to reach the quarter-finals. After Russia's incredible efforts, you'd think it'd be the players getting all the headlines, wouldn't you? Well, perhaps in any other country, but this is Russia, which means one man always takes centre stage: Vladimir Putin. After a controversial VAR verdict seemed to rob Spain against Russia, everyone started making the joke that Putin must have had a hand in it. These are the best Vladimir Putin memes from the World Cup.<doc-sep>In a recent press conference, former referee and now chairman of FIFA's referees committee, Pierluigi Collina said that VAR at the Russia 2018 World Cup was "very close to perfection". He was referring to the 99.3% accuracy rate the video assistant referee system has had so far in the tournament. If this is indeed the case - and who are we to doubt FIFA's statisticians? - then why has there been so much controversy around the technology that, on paper, has improved the game? For this answer, you have to go right back to one of the first uses of VAR in a domestic football league. This was after the technology was labeled a shambles when it was trialed in the 2017 Confederations Cup. It was August, 2017, and Sydney FC were playing against Perth Glory. The game was an important one, as the team who won the match would proceed to the A-League grand final. By half-time, however, the game was pretty much over. The score was 3-0 to Sydney FC but two of these goals, before the arrival of VAR, wouldn't have been given. VAR reversed the decision of two disallowed goals, both originally flagged as offside. The result was a controversial one but was accepted. VAR had stamped its authority, changing the face of the game and ushering in a new era of football that relied on technology. (Main image credit: OZAN KOSE / AFP) The video monitor used on-pitch by referees (Credit: Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) In October, the two teams played again. This time, it was a VAR decision too far for Perth Glory manager Kenny Lowe who, after the game, said the use of VAR was "making a mockery of a lovely game". The reason: the referee took four minutes consulting VAR, only to confirm that a penalty that was originally given should have... been given. VAR was being criticised for changing the flow of a match. There is a stop-start nature to football (inevitable with free kicks, corners and cards) but VAR was shifting it to something closer to the NFL and those on the pitch, let alone the fans, weren't happy. The FFA (Football Federation Australia) responded in the only way it knew how, with a press release. "The VAR principle of minimum interference for maximum benefit was not achieved last night and the team will implement better communication protocols to ensure no repeat of this incident," it read. The VAR team in the VOR room Skip to the World Cup and FIFA decided that, despite many niggles and much backlash, VAR was actually ready for the big league and a whole lot of preparation has gone into making sure that four-minute decisions are no longer a thing. Despite the issues VAR has had in the past, FIFA is sticking with the technology. The idea is that it doesn't want to change the game but bring it into the modern day, with the hope that there will never be a Hand of God moment again. But how does it actually work? How VAR works 12 referees have been chosen to be video assistant referees and they won't set foot on the pitch, but be in a VOR (video operation room). They were all chosen as they have experience with this type of video technology in the countries they are from. Every game has four referees glued to video screens: one video assistant referee (the main VAR) and three assistant video assistant referees (AVAR1, AVAR2 and AVAR3). The main VAR has one video feed that they watch, and underneath this a monitor comprising split screen showing four feeds. AVAR1 takes the main feed, AVAR2 is in charge of offside challenges and watches two screens for this - they have access to two dedicated cameras that aren't used anywhere else. AVAR3 is watching the game as we would - they have their eyes on the television feed. The VOR is centralized and is actually situated in Moscow. Each of the 12 stadiums' video feeds are sent to this room (and each stadium has 33 cameras) through fibre optics. It's also through this system that the on-pitch referee speaks to the VAR team. In the knockout stages, two extra slow-motion cameras are installed behind the goals to offer more choice for the VAR crew. When is VAR used? VAR can only be summoned through certain ways. For obvious reasons, it's only used in real game-changing situations. The first is when there's a goal and a potential offence has happened that lead to the goal. Then there's penalty decisions: ones that have been awarded and ones that haven't, but there's contention that they should have been. The third is to do with red card incidences and the fourth is all about mistaken identity. Out of these, video is reviewed by the on-field referee - that's when you see them running over to a monitor - when a goal's been scored and there is the potential of an off-side ruling or foul committed. Video will also be used when there is a foul leading up to a penalty and for red cards. VAR is consulted (no video, but a chat through the radio comms) for lesser penalty issues and cases of mistaken identity. To make all of this work, the following tech companies are used - Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Crescent Comms (audio) and Hawk-Eye Innovations (video); Goal-Line Technology (GLT): Hawk-Eye Innovations. The results so far... If you were to go by Twitter, then VAR has both its fans and its detractors. BBC Five Live radio host and lifelong football fan Danny Baker is quite succinct in his thoughts about VAR (please skip these, if you are offended by swearing): Seriously VAR. Its a fuzzy, fussy, muddled, complicated, bloated, hopeless fudge of a con foisted onto the game. It does not make things better or clearer or decisive. Fuck off Var and all your supporters.#IRNPORJune 25, 2018 See more One last thing about VAR. To welcome it you have to believe that football was really lawless and chaotic. It wasn't.<doc-sep>
Spain denied extra-time penalty despite review from VAR officials Spain were frustrated by Russia on Sunday afternoon Despite taking the lead through an own-goal from Sergei Ignashevich (which Sergio Ramos tried his hardest to claim for himself), Spain were pegged back before half-time. The ball struck the arm of Gerard Pique inside his own area, allowing Artem Dzyuba to level things from the spot. From there on, the hosts were content to sit deep and deny Spain any clear-cut chances. In response Fernando Hierro's side were patient with possession, making World Cup history in becoming the first team since 1966 to rack up over 1000 passes in a game. The game reached extra-time, and with a penalty shoot-out looming, Spain looked set to be given a chance to win it. A free-kick played into the box saw Ramos and Pique held by Russian defenders. The incident(s) wasn't spotted by the referee but when it emerged the VAR officials were reviewing it, it seemed inevitable that the spot-kick would be given. Much to the surprise of everyone, however, it wasn't. How can that NOT be a pen for Spain? VAR is bollocks. #ESPRUS — Terry Jones (@MostonLane) July 1, 2018 I'm appalled by the VAR. That was a clear penalty in the box. Spain should have been awarded a PK. — ClowderOf3 (@ClowderOf3) July 1, 2018 The VAR review laboratory at the Spain Russia match #SPARUS https://t.co/tuvX9GZbOM — Cycling the Spains (@cyclespains) July 1, 2018 Penalties!!!! But how on earth that VAR check didn’t award Spain one of those two penalty appeals I don’t know #SPNRUS #WorldCup — Ben Haynes (@B_Haynes10) July 1, 2018 The game went on to penalties, where missed penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas sent the hosts through to the quarter finals. We suspect we'll be hearing plenty more about this incident in the days to come.