Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi VAR claim made by Iran coach
IRAN coach Carlos Queiroz reckons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi get preferential treatment from referees.
Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening for Portugal as he missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Iran in his country’s final group game in the World Cup.
The Real Madrid superstar was fortunate not to get sent off after flailing a stray elbow and was instead cautioned following a lengthy VAR review.
Messi, meanwhile, has suffered a disappointing World Cup with Argentina.
And Queiroz has bemoaned the use of VAR, claiming only the likes of Ronaldo and Messi benefit.
“The reality is you stop the game to VAR. There is an elbow that is a red card in the rules,” he said.
It doesn't say whether it is [Lionel] Messi or Ronaldo. It is a red
“It doesn't say whether it is [Lionel] Messi or Ronaldo. It is a red!
"The question for me is not about referees, it is about the attitude and the bravery and the character. The decisions must be clear for everybody.
"In my opinion, Mr Infantino and FIFA, everybody must agree that VAR is not going well, that is the reality. There's a lot of complaints.
"Who takes the decisions in the game? We have the right to know. We have VAR. Human mistakes were before, we accept that.
"The referees on the pitch are washing their hands, covering themselves with decisions because of the guys upstairs.
“The guys upstairs don't know what they should do.
"If you implement VAR, to then make mistakes? When you have high technology, training, and five guys sitting upstairs, and they don't see an elbow? Give me a break, give me a break."