New Zealand and Mexico’s thrilling match in the Confederations Cup would be characterized an all-around success for the tournament if not for the massive failing of one newly implemented system: Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The system, put in place to help referees on the pitch keep up with the increased pace of play and ensure correct calls are made, did none of the above in Wednesday’s 2-1 win for El Tri.
The flaws in VAR became apparent early in stoppage time, as an incident between the two sides set off a long chain of events. A quick flashpoint, with New Zealand’s Ryan Thomas and Michael Boxall at the center of it with Mexico’s Hector Hererra and Diego Reyes, set off a melee.