Queiroz Slams VAR After Ghana Denied Penalty in England Draw

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has hit out at the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology after the Black Stars were denied what he believes was a clear penalty during their goalless draw against England in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L clash at Gillette Stadium.

The Portuguese tactician expressed frustration that a contentious incident involving Ghana was not given proper scrutiny, arguing that modern technology should have been used to eliminate such controversial moments from the game. Queiroz questioned why VAR, introduced a decade ago to support referees and improve decision-making, continues to fail in key moments at major tournaments.

"People say the players should have protested for the penalty, but if they do that, they risk getting a yellow card," Queiroz explained, noting that players face an impossible choice between voicing their concerns and avoiding discipline. "It has been 10 years since VAR was introduced. There is no excuse. The technology came to help referees make the right decisions."

Despite his clear disappointment, Queiroz stopped short of directly attacking match officials, instead calling for systemic improvements in VAR implementation to ensure consistency and fairness at future tournaments. "We hope it will be better in the coming years," he added.

The draw leaves Ghana level on four points with England at the summit of Group L, keeping the Black Stars' knockout hopes alive. Ghana will face Croatia in their final group match, knowing a victory would guarantee at least a second-place finish and passage to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2010.