Among the series of mishaps and failings that caused the United States men’s soccer team to fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was a goal that wasn’t — or shouldn’t have been — in Panama City. Though Costa Rica defender Ronald Matarrita slid across the goal line and prevented the ball from entering the net, the referee credited a goal to Panama’s Gabriel Torres in what ultimately resulted in a 2-1 win that sent Panama, and not the U.S., into the World Cup.
Speaking at a Women’s World Cup launch event in Lyon, France on Thursday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino cited that example in making his case for the adoption of the video-assistant referee (VAR) replay system in next year’s Cup.