‘VAR went for a coffee’ – should Ghana have had penalty against England?Figure caption, ‘Anxious moment for England’ – should this have been a penalty for Ghana?ByGary RoseBBC Sport journalistPublished5 hours ago”Once again VAR went for a coffee.”Ghana may have been celebrating a gutsy goalless draw with England on Tuesday night, but manager Carlo Queiroz couldn’t help wondering what might have been.The Black Stars boss was adamant his side should have been awarded a penalty late in Tuesday’s game as Prince Kwabena Adu charged into the box before Ezri Konsa came across and appeared to bring down the midfielder.
No spot-kick was given – to the relief of England supporters, with replays showing Konsa had caught Adu on the knee and made no contact with the ball.
“I’m not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup. We still have VAR? It’s working?” reported Queiroz.
“I have some doubts about that because another penalty that they need give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England [was missed]. They’re lucky. They’re very lucky.
“It was a clear penalty, red card. You have any doubts about that? You guys who saw the game have any doubts about that or is it only me that was in the game?
“I’m sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say these kind of things seriously they punish me, so I hope you understand that I’m joking.”
BBC pundits watching the game were largely in agreement that Konsa and England were fortunate not to have been punished.
“I think that’s a penalty,” former Three Lions and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney reported on BBC One.
“Konsa takes a huge risk. His feet are off the floor when he comes flying in and he gets the man, not the ball.
“That could easily have been given in my view.”
Fellow former England international and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: “England were chasing the game, they were trying to score the goal but you still need that protection behind you.
“On another day, that could have been a penalty.”
