One of the most controversial goals in World Cup history wouldn’t have counted if Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology existed at the time, admits former Argentina star Maradona.
Leagues around the world are slowly beginning to incorporate the new technology after somewhat successful trials over the past couple of years, including this summer’s Confederations Cup in Russia.
With the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer set to introduce VAR this year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the 2018 World Cup in Russia will use video assistants for the first time whenever “game-changing situations” occur.
Despite being the architect of the infamous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona confessed that he backs the use of video replay in the modern game despite the fact that it would have likely cost Argentina during the country’s 3-1 victory in the quarter-final encounter.
“Obviously I think about it whenever I show my support for the use of technology,” he said in an interview on FIFA’s website.
“I thought about it and, sure, that goal wouldn’t have stood if technology had been around. And I’ll tell you something else: At the 1990 World Cup I used my hand to clear the …read more