Video review causing confusion for FIFA in World Cup trials
June 19, 2017 | 2:45am
Chile's Arturo Vidal, right, and Eduardo Vargas argue with referee Demir Skomina during the Confederations Cup, Group B soccer match between Cameroon and Chile, at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Sunday, June 18, 2017. | AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Video reviews are not giving FIFA a quick solution at the tournament it is using to fast-track the system for the 2018 World Cup.
Both Confederation Cup games played on Sunday in Russia left teams confused by decisions — reached more slowly than expected — by referees taking advice from assistants watching multiple replays.
Portugal and Chile both had goals disallowed for offside. Portugal had to wait for what seemed an unnecessary review of a good goal scored.
FIFA has told referees they must use reviews to overturn only "clear errors" in game-changing situations such as penalty kicks awarded and offside rulings affecting goals.
In trying to define a clear error, FIFA has suggested when "almost everyone who is neutral agrees the decision is incorrect."
Portugal ended 2-2 with Mexico and, perhaps fortunately for FIFA, Chile beat Cameroon 2-0.
"It is a little difficult for the players," Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said. "Even if it is the right decision, this has an impact on players' emotions and feelings."
Chile's star player Arturo Vidal fiercely argued with referee Damir Skomina when a goal scored in first-half stoppage time by Eduardo Vargas was overruled almost one minute later. FIFA later released still images of a razor-thin margin of the offside ruling.
Video review seems to have plenty to prove to football's rule-making panel, known as IFAB. Its decision is due in March whether to approve it for use at the World Cup, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants.
Four incidents on just the second day of the biggest tournament so far to conduct live trials has created more controversy than FIFA expected.
One "clear error" might be overturned every four or five games, FIFA head of refereeing Massimo Busacca suggested last year.
"If this is going to happen several times during a game, well it's not very pleasant for the players," Cameroon coach Hugo Broos said.
Count Vidal among the current skeptics. Chile players had done their choreographed goal celebration routine and were moving back into position for the restart when referee Skomina signaled for a review.
FIFA wants to keep fans in the loop by showing slow motion images on stadium giant screens. Vidal angrily directed the referee — relying on his three video assistant referees (VARs) to interpret images he was not watching — to check them himself.
The uncertainty lasted far beyond the six-second target FIFA had set last year for officials to review their opinions.
It took at least 30 seconds for Vargas's goal in second-half stoppage time to be confirmed after Alexia Sanchez was judged not to have been in an offside position earlier in the move.
Against Mexico, Portugal had to wait to find out that the score would stay at 0-0 in the first half when Nani's shot was overruled for an offside call that went unflagged in an earlier phase of play.
More confusion was caused when Argentine referee Nestor Pitana called a review for unclear reasons after defender Cedric Soares's deflected shot in the 86th gave Portugal a 2-1 lead.
"It's the new rule, and if it brings benefits to football, that's fine," Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. "But we have to be careful because I don't think people understand this new rule really well."
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