Women’s World Cup opener features first in-stadium announcement of a VAR decision…but fans still CAN’T hear the reasons behind the decision
The opening of the Women’s World Cup shows the first in-stadium announcement of a VAR decision… but fans still CANNOT hear the reasons behind the decision
At the opening of the Women’s World Cup, a VAR decision was announced for the first time in the stadium, as New Zealand received a late penalty.
With two minutes remaining in Football Ferns’ 1-0 win over Norway on Thursday, a cross hit Tuva Hansen’s right hand as the Norwegian defender stood on the edge of the box.
When play stopped, the VAR official stepped in to instruct referee Yoshimi Yamashita to watch the incident on the pitch monitor.
Yamashita did just that, before informing the crowd of the outcome.
“After an official assessment, the decision is a punishment,” she said.
Yoshimi Yamashita awarded New Zealand a penalty after a VAR review
Yamashita’s decision was heard as an announcement at the stadium in Auckland
The Women’s World Cup is the first tournament in which FIFA is currently trialling a new protocol in its competitions that would allow referees to communicate the final decision to stadium and television audiences at the end of a VAR check.
However, the conversation that led to the decision remains inaudible to both fans in the stadium and viewers on TV.
New Zealand ultimately missed the penalty, with Ria Percival smashing her effort against the crossbar.
It didn’t stop the Football Ferns from winning their first ever win at a Women’s World Cup in front of 42,000 fans – a record number for a New Zealand football match.
Hannah Wilkinson scored the only goal of the match three minutes into the second half and the hosts came close to doubling their lead twice.
Norway rattled the bar to themselves late on, but New Zealand held on for a famous win.
“I’m so, so proud, we’ve fought for this for so long,” New Zealand captain Ali Riley said in an emotional post-match interview.
“We had a clear goal that we wanted to inspire young girls, young people in this country and around the world.
Ria Percival took the penalty for the Football Ferns after intervention by the VAR
Percival’s penalty crashed against the crossbar but it didn’t matter as New Zealand held on
“And I really think we did that tonight. Everything is possible.’
“I think there have been a lot of doubts because of the results we’ve achieved, but we believed in it.
“We believed in ourselves the whole game, we believed in ourselves from the start and we showed it.
“We played with confidence and poise, Vic [goalkeeper Victoria Esson] was incredible, the defense was incredible, and the finish […] this is what dreams are made of.”