So far, VAR has been making the headlines at the World Cup. Video Referee Assistant first came into the spotlight after France was awarded a penalty courtesy of this technology and has remained at center-stage ever since.
While it's introduction in France's win over Australia was controversial, VAR was widely applauded for its cameo in Brazil's clash with Costa Rica. The technology was called into action in Friday's early kickoff and proved its worth when a refereeing error occurred.
With Tite's finding it difficult to beat Keylor Navas, the South American giant appeared to have gotten the break they were looking for when they were awarded a penalty later on in the second half. This decision came after a run-in between Neymar and a Costa Rican player.
The official deemed that Neymar was fouled inside the box and thus pointed to the spot despite the attacker going down under little to no contact. Los Ticos players were thus understandably upset and demanded the referee to reconsider his decision.
Upon watching replays, the referee went back on his decision and overturned Brazil's penalty. This was hailed on social media, with many gathering to tear apart the PSG superstar for his dive.
Ref well within his rights to jab Neymar there...
— Kevin Bridges (@kevinbridges86) June 22, 2018
Football fans around the world after watching the penalty call on Neymar get overturned. pic.twitter.com/aJ9hZkvZwr
— Warmballers (@Warmballers) June 22, 2018
Pathetic Neymar,Good referring.#WorldCup18
— Daniel (@GunnerDJ21) June 22, 2018
Serves Neymar right too. He could have just taken it on and hammered it in. Pathetic.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 22, 2018
Replay of Neymar falling over in the penalty box #BRACRC #BRA #CRC pic.twitter.com/4mHMu92czD
— . (@UsernameMcgee) June 22, 2018
VAR gets it 100% right. Neymar dived and justice was done. That's exactly what VAR is for.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 22, 2018
Neymar putting in his call for an Oscar nomination there...
— Roeseph McDenticles (@dent1989) June 22, 2018
VAR on point.....
— It is WriTTen.. (@xtianifeanyi) June 22, 2018
Neymar crook
Moments like that are a great use of VAR. Neymar wasting a perfect attacking opportunity to take a dive. #BRACRC #WorldCup
— Tom Beverley (@TM_Bev) June 22, 2018
Wow @neymarjr just made himself so like donkey. #WorldCupRussia2018 true #VAR has done a good job.
— Ed K. K. Edris (@edkedris) June 22, 2018
WOW. We've had several VAR-decided penalties this #WorldCup. That's the first VAR disallowed penalty. NO PK for Neymar because he embellished. Justice! And a GREAT job by referee Bjorn Kuipers. #BRA #CRC
— Mitch Carr (@mitchcarrtv) June 22, 2018
The five-time champion still managed to win the game. Two late goals in stoppage time goals, from Coutinho and Neymar, saw the tie end 2-0 to earn the heavyweight their first victory in this tournament. All that's left for the Samba Kings is to overcome Serbia in their final group-stage game.