One Question Hanging Over the World Cup Final
As the United States and the Netherlands<strong> </strong>prepare to face off, teams and fans wonder whether VAR—or instant-replay reviews—will decide the champion.
by Robert O'Connell
Jul 05, 2019
4 minutes
In the 73rd minute of a scoreless group-stage match between earlier in this month’s World Cup, the French forward Viviane Asseyi was undercut by a Nigerian defender in the penalty area, drawing a foul. The ruling—confirmed by the replay system known as video assistant referee, or VAR—set up a tense scenario. If the penalty kick, taken by Wendie Renard, went in, France would head to the knockout round with an undefeated record, keeping its standing as one of the tournament’s favorites. If the goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie managed to fend it off, an ascendant Nigerian squad in pursuit of its first knockout-round berth would have a chance
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