Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ghana penalty ‘unstoppable and 100% should have been overturned’ as Mike Dean points out ‘VAR glitch’
MIKE DEAN has opened up about the ‘unsustainable’ award of Portugal’s penalty against Ghana and suggested a VAR error could have been to blame.
Cristiano Ronaldo went down under a challenge from Mohammed Salisu as Portugal struggled to find their way through a stubborn Ghanaian side.
2
2
He was fouled by the Southampton defender and referee Ismail Elfath awarded a penalty.
The 37-year-old converted the penalty to make World Cup history.
But controversy arose after the pin was awarded, with many believing Salisu had won the ball cleanly.
Former Premier League referee Dean was among those left stunned by the “scary” decision.
He told BEIN Sports: “The defender is clearly playing the ball. Ronaldo then touches the defender’s back, goes down, initiates contact.
“It’s not the referee’s fault – he made the decision on the pitch. I think the VAR should have stepped in and invited the referee to look at it.”
“It’s scary, I have to say. I’m just amazed. I like supporting referees all the time, but you can’t support something like that. You can’t defend the untenable.”
Ghana’s manager was furious with the penalty.
Most read at the 2022 World Cup
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
Otto Addo said Ronaldo received “special gifts from the referees” as he lamented the defeat.
Ronaldo’s opening goal came after the hour mark and set Portugal on course to victory – but it was far from easy.
But debate over the decision raged on after the game.
Dean, who is still at VAR but has retired from his duties on the field, added: “It should have been lifted. He should have gone to the screen, he should have watched it.
“There may have been a technical error that we don’t know about. I just can’t understand why he wasn’t sent to the big screen. It’s 100 percent wrong.”
The win puts Portugal in good shape ahead of their next game against Uruguay in Group H.
Meanwhile, Ghana now need to take something from South Korea to stay at the World Cup.
https://www.the-sun.com/sport/6768788/ronaldo-penalty-mike-dean-ghana/ Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ghana penalty ‘unstoppable and 100% should have been overturned’ as Mike Dean points out ‘VAR glitch’
