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VAR Reviews Uphold Referee Calls in England, Argentina and Iran Matches
ESPN reported multiple VAR reviews from recent matches that upheld on-field calls. Officials cleared an Argentina goal and disallowed an Iran goal while rejecting a possible red card and penalty.
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VAR officials declined to intervene in several incidents across three matches, according to ESPN. In the England versus Ghana match, referee Saíd Martínez awarded a free kick to England after Jordan Pickford collided with Prince Adu at the 67-minute mark. VAR official Armando Villarreal determined the possible DOGSO red card situation did not meet the threshold for an on-field review.
At the 79-minute mark in the same match, VAR official Armando Villarreal also declined to intervene when Ezri Konsa challenged Prince Adu inside the England penalty area. The review found no clear on-field error. In the Argentina versus Austria match, referee Amin Mohamed Omar saw an Argentina goal stand after VAR official Khamis Al Marri cleared a possible foul by Alexis Mac Allister on Xaver Schlager at the 38-minute mark.
The contact was not judged a clear error. During the Iran versus Belgium match, referee Darío Herrera oversaw a lengthy VAR review that disallowed a goal by Mehdi Taremi for offside at the 25-minute mark. VAR official Hernán Mastrángelo determined Taremi was marginally offside because his backside was over the line when the free kick was played.
The incident occurred on June 21, 2026.
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