VAR was consulted on four different occasions in the match and there was 15 minutes added time due to reviews and temporary player strikes.
The Video Assistant Referee system plunged the Women’s World Cup into farce, on Sunday, as England reached the last eight. Here were the highlights:
- England goals for Houghton (14 minutes), White (45) and Greenwood (58)
- Six-yard indirect free awarded as Cameroon goalkeeper picks up back-pass
- Cameroon players going on strike after second England goal
- Cameroon have VAR rule out a seemingly good goal
- 90-second VAR hold-up ultimately leads to England not getting a penalty no-one from their side claimed
It was pure chaos in the Last 16 clash between Cameroon and Phil Neville’s England side, who won out 3-0 in controversial circumstances.
The madness began after 14 minutes when England’s Steff Houghton scored from an indirect free on the six-yard line:
Sasana imithe chun cinn i Valenciennes le cúl ón gcaptaen Steph Houghton #FIFAWWC
England take the lead with an indirect free kick against Cameroon #ENGvCMR#20×20 pic.twitter.com/oyZnhna7JQ
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 23, 2019
The were pure scenes in Valenciennes as the Cameroonian players refused to play on for over two minutes after England went 2-0 ahead.
The referee and her officials did their best to resume play but some players were on their way up the tunnel and in tears:
Conspóid anseo i Valenciennes – D'imigh Camarún ar stailc cúpla nóiméad mar gur ceadaíodh dara cúl Sasana #FIFAWWC
Madness just before the half time whistle as Cameroon decide to go on strike after conceding a second goal pic.twitter.com/AiCoJL0G1R
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 23, 2019
Cameroon looked to have gotten right back into the match with a goal on the 47th minute but VAR intervened again and the goal was chalked off for the most marginal of offsides.
That was the icing on a particularly distasteful cake and, once again, players had to be urged to continue with the game.
Cúl curtha ar ceal ar Camarún ! Níl VAR an-chabhrach dóibh #FIFAWWC
VAR comes to the rescue for England #ENGvCMR#20×20 pic.twitter.com/6uxWr9XLod
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 23, 2019
The England win was sealed just before the hour-mark as Manchester United captain Alex Greenwood drilled home when Toni Duggan found her with a corner-kick.
