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Nigeria penalty claim: Was referee wrong in VAR decision vs Argentina at World Cup?
NIGERIA and Argentina played out a mesmerising match in the World Cup tonight - but should Nigeria have been given a penalty?
World Cup: Pundits discuss Nigeria penalty controversy
Nigeria had clawed their way back into the World Cup Group D match thanks to a Victor Moses penalty after Lionel Messi had opened the scoring.
But the African side thought they were deserving of a second penalty when Marcos Rojo headed the ball onto his own arm.
The referee did not blow his whistle and moments later Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo wasted a glorious opportunity to score from 14 yards out.
And once his shot flew wide he immediately appealed for a penalty.
Ref Cuneyt Cakir refused to give a spot kick immediately and went to VAR, who then called him over to the off-pitch TV screen.
And after some moments of deliberation Cakir gave a goal kick.
Nigeria were furious but Cakir evidently believed Rojo’s handball was not intentional.
But the decision has already caused controversy, with Iran earning a penalty off a handball by Portugal’s Cedric Soares last night.
Iran scored their spot-kick to earn an unlikely draw against Portugal, even though plenty thought Soares was unlucky to be penalised.
John Obi Mikel voiced his frustrations at the decision at full-time.
"It was a clear penalty for me,” he said.
“If you look at the Portugal game yesterday, this wasn't close to that.
“This was worse. We have seen it again in the dressing room. It was a clear handball.
“The referee looked at the VAR. He said it hit the hand.
“I asked why he didn't give the penalty, but he said he didn't know.”
So, should Nigeria have been awarded a penalty? Leave your view in the comments section below…