The Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has witnessed an extraordinary sequence of penalties, with referees awarding spot-kicks in all of the first eight games of the tournament. In approximately half of these cases, penalties were granted following consultations with the video assistant referee (VAR).
The streak of penalties finally came to an end during the ninth game of the competition, where Switzerland took the lead against debutants the Philippines with a controversial VAR intervention leading to a penalty decision. The Swiss went on to win 2-0, raising questions about the frequency and consistency of penalty calls.
Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg expressed her concern over the situation and called for greater “balance” among both players and referees when making penalty decisions. Ahead of Germany’s opening match against Morocco, she advised her team to be cautious within the penalty box.
In response to the penalty-heavy trend, former Australia international Heather Garriock criticized a penalty decision made with VAR intervention during Switzerland’s match against the Philippines, stating, “This is definitely not a penalty in my opinion. I think that’s pretty harsh.”
Despite the controversy, referees have continued to rely on VAR to make critical penalty decisions. In the opening match of their title defence, the United States was awarded a penalty after an extensive VAR check, which resulted in a failed spot-kick by Alex Morgan. Nonetheless, the US secured a 3-0 victory.
When questioned about the increasing number of penalties and whether they were being awarded too easily, US coach Vlatko Andonovski defended the decisions, citing the advanced technology and thorough reviews available to the referees. He stated, “With all the cameras, with VAR and all the angles that the referees are reviewing, I’m sure they’re making the right call. If it’s a foul in the box, it’s a penalty.”
The prevalence of penalties has sparked discussions about the impact of technology on the game and the need to strike a balance between upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring fairness in officiating. As the tournament progresses, teams, players, and fans will be closely monitoring the penalty decisions and how VAR influences the outcomes of matches.
The excessive use of penalties can not only affect the dynamics of the game but also have implications for teams’ strategies and tactics. While technological advancements like VAR have undoubtedly improved the accuracy of refereeing decisions, achieving a balance between applying the rules consistently and preventing unwarranted calls remains a pressing concern for the tournament organisers and officials.
