'Get rid of VAR!' Rooney unhappy Sanchez goal ruled out

BBC Sport World Cup pundit Wayne Rooney cannot believe Davinson Sanchez's goal for Colombia against Portugal was ruled out because the defender was offside by a toe.

During the World Cup group stage match between Colombia and Portugal, Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez scored a header from a corner kick, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed because his toe was offside. The decision sparked huge controversy, with BBC Sport pundit and former England striker Wayne Rooney openly criticizing the intervention as too strict. Rooney said: 'This is ridiculous! We introduced VAR to correct clear and obvious errors, not to disallow goals by a matter of centimeters. Sanchez's offside was maybe just a few centimeters, even just the tip of his toe. Such a decision completely goes against the spirit of football.' He added: 'If this continues, we might as well get rid of VAR and let the game flow with passion.' In the 35th minute, Colombia won a corner. Sanchez rose high in the box and headed the ball into the top corner. Colombian players and fans celebrated wildly, but VAR immediately intervened. After a two-minute check, the referee ruled that Sanchez's toe was offside before he jumped, disallowing the goal. Portuguese players breathed a sigh of relief, while Colombia was left frustrated. This decision not only affected the match's outcome but also reignited the debate over VAR's standards. Many fans and experts argue that while VAR reduces obvious mistakes, it also kills the drama and spontaneous joy of football. Rooney's view represents those who believe football needs human judgment, not robotic precision. From a technical perspective, VAR's offside line system is accurate but sometimes controversial due to camera angles and frame rates. Sanchez's offside might have been just millimeters, but the system still flagged it. Such 'toenail offside' calls have become frequent in recent years, putting pressure on FIFA to adjust the rules. For Colombia, the draw made their qualification situation delicate. If Sanchez's goal had stood, they would have taken the lead and gained momentum. Portugal, meanwhile, held on to top spot in the group. Rooney's criticism may reflect the view of many neutral fans: VAR should correct clear errors, not become the center of attention. Regardless, this controversial decision will be a footnote in World Cup history. In the future, FIFA may need to revisit VAR guidelines to find a better balance between accuracy and the flow of the game.

'Get rid of VAR!' Rooney unhappy Sanchez goal ruled out

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