In a long interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, French legend and former President of UEFA Michel Platini gave a scathing assessment of the use of VAR. “For me, it does not bring more justice to the game.”
The fomer Juventus player cited, in particular, the 2018 World Cup final: “Take the game between France and Croatia at the World Cup. The VAR was in use. Yet, on the first goal where France scored from a free kick, I did not think there was a foul by the Croatian team in the build up. Then, on the second goal, it is the VAR director who makes the call rather than the referee himself. The official on the field becomes like a puppet!
“Even then, did it really strike the Croatian’s hands? In real time or even in a regular slow motion I do not believe it does, but through a special lens which slows down each action to one thousandth of a second, then yes. The referee sees that and whistles the penalty. The Croatians claim involuntary handball, the French claim the opposite: where is the progress, where is the justice? It is always open to interpretation” Platini continued.
