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Yes, the Women’s World Cup is using VAR. Yes, people are going to complain. And yes, the VAR got the call right in its first usage during the tournament opener between France and South Korea on Friday.
France was the first victim of VAR at Women’s World Cup after a goal was disallowed for the narrowest of offside calls in the first half of the first match of the tournament.
But the French side didn’t put its head down, mope or complain, as everyone on social media seemed to be doing. Instead, Wendie Renard scored two unstoppable headers to give the host nation a 3-0 lead at halftime.
After a so-so opening ceremony (aren’t they all?), France dominated from the first kick. Eugenie Le Sommer smashed in the opening goal off the crossbar following a good pass from Amandine Henry.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Eugénie Le Sommer marca el primer gol del Mundial y llega a 75 goles con #FRA siendo la segunda máxima goleadora! pic.twitter.com/kvhH2wFAJj
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 7, 2019
Then came the unavoidable VAR controversy. And by controversy, we mean people complaining about calls being made correctly.
French center back Griedge Mbock Bathy thought she had scored a great volley off a header from fellow Lyon center back Wendie Renard. The ball hit the back of the net and the crowd went wild.
But, before the match could be restarted, VAR buzzed in and had its say. Mbock Bathy was slightly offside and the goal was disallowed.
#WWCTelemundo ¡ @MGriedge marcó un golazo pero el vAR lo anuló! #FRA 1-0 #KOR pic.twitter.com/DS0wCymscB
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 7, 2019
People did not like the use of VAR, even though offside is an indisputable yes or no call that the officials correctly identified.
Welcome to #VAR. no goal. Crowd is going a lil crazy...not happy.
Was it offside or not? pic.twitter.com/aNH3ExMQZw— Karina LeBlanc (@karinaleblanc) June 7, 2019
I mean. Technically offside. But do we really want to live in a world where that goal doesn't stand? Do we really like that?
— Kimberly McCauley (@lgbtqfc) June 7, 2019
NOOOO VAR YOU ARE THE WORST
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) June 7, 2019
The nerve of VAR to disallow that goal! #FRAKOR #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/suZA1RgBII
— The Cooligans (@SoccerCooligans) June 7, 2019
That was a goal, VAR is a clown show bro #FRAvsKOR #WorldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/0iSrUgJXe9
— Alex Mcleman (@SalMcleman) June 7, 2019
Me to VAR already #FRAKOR pic.twitter.com/v3nTgC9sEo
— Molly Appleton (@mollyappleton93) June 7, 2019
Fortunately, a few people showed some common sense on social media, though that’s a rare commodity.
If we want just decisions all round, we can’t complain when an admittedly beautiful goal is annulled due to the player concerned being offside, even fractionally. #VAR #FRAKOR #FIFAWWC
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) June 7, 2019
For all the folks slamming VAR, "clear and obvious" doesn't apply to offside, which is an objective yes or no. They got the call right. (I just wish the offside rule would change to require daylight between the attacker and defender.)
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 7, 2019
But rather than soak in the disappointment of losing a great goal, France pushed on for more.
In the 35th minute, Renard scored a goal no VAR could possibly have taken away with a powerful header.
#WWCTelemundo ¡ @WRenard remata de cabeza y aumenta la ventaja para #FRA! pic.twitter.com/z1j6ZATZVv
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 7, 2019
Just before halftime, Renard again steered home a corner kick to give France a 3-0 lead at halftime.
#WWCTelemundo ¡ @WRenard vuelve a demostrar su poderío y marca su doblete de cabeza! #FRA 3-0 #KOR pic.twitter.com/OZliSxvZ4I
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 7, 2019
Who cares about VAR calling offside when you can just lob corner kicks to Renard all game?
The Lyon center back is the current leader in the race for the Golden Boot. Given how unstoppable she is on headers, don’t be surprised if Renard actually stays in that race.
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