Don’t blame VAR for Women’s World Cup penalty controversies – it’s the new rules that are the problem

Remember all the arguments we had about VAR? It would slow the game down. Baffle live spectators. Rip the elite game even further from the grassroots.

Those were the days, eh? Then came last year’s World Cup. No one was deterred from debating referee decisions (a past time that apparently ranks above watching actual football for many), and the video refs were largely seen as a success. VAR even managed to be used on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup final, while winning over sceptics.

By the time it came to giving a first minute penalty in the Champions League final, VAR’s use was unremarkable – especially in comparison to a year-long running media outrage over application of the handball laws.

Use of VAR at the Women’s World Cup, however, has reignited its existence as a topic of debate. Many of the 'controversial' refereeing decisions from the past fortnight have led to suggestions that VAR itself is the problem, rather than the decisions being made.

This, though, misses the point.

So far, the controversies have come in two forms.

The first has been soft penalties. Most have been about handballs – which, given the number of Champions League controversies this season, hardly seems to be unique to the Women’s World Cup. Others have been about dangerous challenges; France’s penalty against Norway in particular.

But all of those penalty decisions have been correct, and probably would have been given in the men’s game regardless. Nothing here stands out as unique to this tournament.

The second round of controversy is a bit different, and has been over the instances of penalty retakes. In the game between Italy and Jamaica, Cristiana Girelli saw her penalty saved by Sydney Schneider – but slotted home on the retake after Schneider was judged to have come off her line.

Monday’s match between France and Nigeria was even more controversial: Wendie Renard’s first attempt went wide, but scored with a second opportunity, following a video replay showing Chiamaka Nnadozie marginally in front of the goal line.

And now, worst of all, Scotland have been sent home after the same thing happened in the dying moments against Argentina.

All the goalkeepers received yellow cards for their troubles – namely, stepping slightly off the line.

This, many have argued, is the fault of VAR. Overzealousness from referees has led them to rely on video assistance for every marginal call, and the level of pedantry replays can provide is killing the game.

Don’t blame VAR, blame the rules.

In March, IFAB, the referees’ association, published a new tranche of rules to be introduced on 1 June, and which are already in use at this World Cup.

Most people watching Women’s World Cup games have already regularly spotted one: defenders receiving the ball from a goal kick within the penalty area. This – a reaction to the now common build-from-the-back, high-press style – will be seen every week in domestic men’s football from August.

Another, on handball (yawn), has been a favoured topic of discussion among live commentators.

But these decisions have been about the new rules on penalties. Essentially, they read like an exaggeration of the previous ones that dictated a goalkeeper can’t come off their line. Now, keepers must keep one foot on (or in line with) the goal line, they “must not be moving”, touching the crossbar, or stood behind the line.

This all works in the penalty taker’s favour, and points us to the real problem here. It’s not the application of the rules, nor the presence of video replays with which to interpret them, but the rules themselves that are the real issue.

Referees are being told to look out for goalkeepers breaking these rules. It wasn’t VAR that asked them to do that.

With the introduction of VAR into the Premier League next season, keepers should take note.

NOW TRY...

7 new rule changes are coming to the Premier League – but are they good or bad?

Quiz! Can you name the 34 players with most caps for Brazil?

While you're here, why not take advantage of our brilliant subscribers' offer? Get the world's greatest football magazine for just £9.50 every quarter – the game's greatest stories and finest journalism direct to your door for less than a couple of pints. Cheers!

New features you’ll love on FourFourTwo.com

 

Conor Pope
Online Editor

Conor Pope is the former Online Editor of FourFourTwo, overseeing all digital content. He plays football regularly, and has a large, discerning and ever-growing collection of football shirts from around the world.

He supports Blackburn Rovers and holds a season ticket with south London non-league side Dulwich Hamlet. His main football passions include Tugay, the San Siro and only using a winter ball when it snows.

Latest in Analysis
England players celebrate after Myles Lewis-Skelly scored the opening goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Albania at Wembley Stadium, London, March 2025
Stats and facts to set the scene as England face Latvia in World Cup qualifying
Wales players celebrate a goal against Iceland during the UEFA Nations League match at the Cardiff City Stadium, November 2024
A goal-fest in store as Wales entertain Kazakhstan in their first game of 2025?
Northern Ireland players celebrate after Isaac Price scored to complete a hat-trick in the UEFA Nations League match against Bulgaria at Windsor Park in Belfast, October 2024
Here's what to watch out for as in-form Northern Ireland gear up for Switzerland friendly
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, looks on during a training session at St Georges Park on March 18, 2025 in Burton-upon-Trent, England Journalist and Media pundit, Henry Winter looks on from the press box during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 03, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
'Where’s the "one of our own" that’s remotely good enough? The FA needed to be pragmatic, not patriotic.' Writing exclusively for FourFourTwo Henry Winter reminds England fans why they have good reason to be smiling
Andy Robertson celebrates with John McGinn after scoring Scotland's winning goal in stoppage time against Poland in the Nations League in Warsaw, November 2024
Three things to keep an eye on as Scotland look to avoid Nations League relegation in Greece play-off
England manager Thomas Tuchel speaks at a press conference, March 2025
What to look out for as Thomas Tuchel's England tenure gets underway with Albania clash
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Orlando Pride players raise the trophy during the NWSL Championship game between Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
How to watch NWSL: Live streams, TV information for National Women's Soccer League 2025
Premier League ball
Quiz! Can you name the players to have scored Premier League hat-tricks?
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.
Who are the contenders for the Ballon d'Or Féminin?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen