Pierluigi Collina has dismissed the suggestion that VAR has favoured European teams at the Women’s World Cup, insisting that all Fifa referees officiate fairly.
This World Cup’s quarter-finals will be contested between seven European teams and the United States, all while the debate rages over the use of VAR and newly-introduced rule changes.
The biggest refereeing controversy of the tournament so far came on Sunday, with Cameroon’s angry protests against the officiating in their defeat to England.
Despite the decisions in that game being correct, reports emerged that some Cameroon players felt they were the victims of racism. Head coach Alain Djeumfa played down those suggestions.
At a Fifa briefing on refereeing and VAR in Paris on Wednesday, Collina was asked whether it was “circumstantial” that African, Asian and South American teams had been “victims” of VAR.
1/16 1. United States
Bailed out by two Megan Rapinoe penalties in their most unconvincing display of the tournament to date, though remain top of our standings on the strength of their group stage displays. Beat France in the quarter-finals and they will be overwhelming favourites.
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2/16 2. France
Handed a difficult last-16 tie and only just came through in extra time against Brazil. It will get no easier in the last eight against the United States, though if any side can hurt the reigning champions, it is the hosts.
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3/16 3. Germany
You hate to use the word ‘efficient’ but Germany keep doing enough to comfortably overcome all obstacles without making jaws drop. Is what we have seen so far all there is? Or is there still plenty left in the tank?
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4/16 4. England
The controversy surrounding the victory over Cameroon overshadowed another performance that was not without its flaws. Will have to play better to progress past Norway, let alone challenge the main contenders.
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5/16 5. Netherlands
Enjoyed revenge over Japan, having suffered elimination at the same stage to the same opponent four years ago, but required a controversial late penalty to record their fourth win in four games.
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6/16 6. Norway
Progressed to the knock-out stages comfortably, troubled hosts France in their only defeat, and could – perhaps should – have beaten Australia in normal time. England will not intimidate them.
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7/16 7. Sweden
Nothing spectacular, and it may take more to overcome Germany in the quarter-finals, but Peter Gerhardsson’s side are in the last eight on merit, having showed patience and purpose when dispatching Canada.
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8/16 8. Italy
The tournament’s surprise package are into the quarter-finals of their first World Cup in 20 years. More than held their own in the groups, coming out on top of the toughest draw, but a meeting with the Netherlands should prove a bridge too far.
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9/16 9. Brazil
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserved to go further, having taken six points from the toughest group and taken the hosts to extra time, but France proved to have too much for Marta and her team-mates.
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10/16 10. Canada
Eliminated from the last 16. Leaving so early is a disappointment given their no. 5 world ranking, though you would never have guessed it from their conservative approach. Rarely looked like scoring against Sweden, the missed penalty aside.
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11/16 11. Japan
Eliminated from the last 16. Reaching a third successive final was always likely to be beyond this squad, though will still depart with a hint of disappointment. Their exit meant there are no Asian sides in the quarter-finals for the first time in Women’s World Cup history.
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12/16 12. Spain
Eliminated from the last 16. Saved their best performance of the tournament until their last game. On another day, could have upset an out-of-sorts United States but must add incision to their patient possession game.
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13/16 13. Australia
Eliminated from the last 16. Entertainers throughout, responsible for three of the tournament’s best games so far, though never looked long for this World Cup. Despite her penalty miss, Sam Kerr is a loss to proceedings.
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14/16 14. China
Eliminated from the last 16. Once a force in the women’s game, defeat to Italy reflected their diminished status. A little unlucky to be placed in one of the toughest groups and thereby only qualify in third.
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15/16 15. Nigeria
Eliminated from the last 16. The meek exit at the hands of Germany was a mismatch, but Thomas Dennerby’s side arguably deserved more from their group stage performances having tested both France and Norway.
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16/16 16. Cameroon
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserve credit for reaching the knock-out stages when unfancied, though will be remembered for their conduct and loss of composure in their defeat to England.
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1/16 1. United States
Bailed out by two Megan Rapinoe penalties in their most unconvincing display of the tournament to date, though remain top of our standings on the strength of their group stage displays. Beat France in the quarter-finals and they will be overwhelming favourites.
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2/16 2. France
Handed a difficult last-16 tie and only just came through in extra time against Brazil. It will get no easier in the last eight against the United States, though if any side can hurt the reigning champions, it is the hosts.
Getty Images
3/16 3. Germany
You hate to use the word ‘efficient’ but Germany keep doing enough to comfortably overcome all obstacles without making jaws drop. Is what we have seen so far all there is? Or is there still plenty left in the tank?
Getty Images
4/16 4. England
The controversy surrounding the victory over Cameroon overshadowed another performance that was not without its flaws. Will have to play better to progress past Norway, let alone challenge the main contenders.
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5/16 5. Netherlands
Enjoyed revenge over Japan, having suffered elimination at the same stage to the same opponent four years ago, but required a controversial late penalty to record their fourth win in four games.
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6/16 6. Norway
Progressed to the knock-out stages comfortably, troubled hosts France in their only defeat, and could – perhaps should – have beaten Australia in normal time. England will not intimidate them.
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7/16 7. Sweden
Nothing spectacular, and it may take more to overcome Germany in the quarter-finals, but Peter Gerhardsson’s side are in the last eight on merit, having showed patience and purpose when dispatching Canada.
Getty Images
8/16 8. Italy
The tournament’s surprise package are into the quarter-finals of their first World Cup in 20 years. More than held their own in the groups, coming out on top of the toughest draw, but a meeting with the Netherlands should prove a bridge too far.
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9/16 9. Brazil
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserved to go further, having taken six points from the toughest group and taken the hosts to extra time, but France proved to have too much for Marta and her team-mates.
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10/16 10. Canada
Eliminated from the last 16. Leaving so early is a disappointment given their no. 5 world ranking, though you would never have guessed it from their conservative approach. Rarely looked like scoring against Sweden, the missed penalty aside.
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11/16 11. Japan
Eliminated from the last 16. Reaching a third successive final was always likely to be beyond this squad, though will still depart with a hint of disappointment. Their exit meant there are no Asian sides in the quarter-finals for the first time in Women’s World Cup history.
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12/16 12. Spain
Eliminated from the last 16. Saved their best performance of the tournament until their last game. On another day, could have upset an out-of-sorts United States but must add incision to their patient possession game.
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13/16 13. Australia
Eliminated from the last 16. Entertainers throughout, responsible for three of the tournament’s best games so far, though never looked long for this World Cup. Despite her penalty miss, Sam Kerr is a loss to proceedings.
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14/16 14. China
Eliminated from the last 16. Once a force in the women’s game, defeat to Italy reflected their diminished status. A little unlucky to be placed in one of the toughest groups and thereby only qualify in third.
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15/16 15. Nigeria
Eliminated from the last 16. The meek exit at the hands of Germany was a mismatch, but Thomas Dennerby’s side arguably deserved more from their group stage performances having tested both France and Norway.
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16/16 16. Cameroon
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserve credit for reaching the knock-out stages when unfancied, though will be remembered for their conduct and loss of composure in their defeat to England.
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“Concerning complaints coming from continents or other continents: honestly, for us there are six continents,” said the chairman of Fifa’s referees committee.
“All the teams coming from the six continents are important for us, deserving our maximum attention. And then everyone is free to complain if they wish.
“What is important is to complain based on facts. If there are no facts, I have nothing to say.”
However, the Italian refused to be drawn on reports that referee Liang Qin ignored VAR advice on two late decisions in order to prevent further angering the Cameroon players.
“This has nothing to do with the percentage, with accuracy,” he said, referring back to Fifa’s statistics that 98.18 per cent of VAR calls at the World Cup to date have been correct.
“This is what was used in the decision making process so this belongs to the referee to our analysis with the referees and this is not part of press conference matters.”
