Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz joked that the video assistant referee must have gone for a coffee after claiming England escaped a penalty and red card in Tuesday’s World Cup clash.
After both teams won their Group L openers, the well-drilled Black Stars sat back and frustrated Thomas Tuchel’s men on an overcast afternoon in Massachusetts.
England dominated possession and had 19 shots as the game finished 0-0 at Boston Stadium, where Ghana’s appeals for a late penalty for Ezri Konsa’s challenge on Prince Adu fell on deaf ears.
The substitute had been hurt shortly before that in a collision with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who was awarded a free-kick rather than penalized.
Ghana head coach Queiroz looked towards a FIFA official in the post-match press conference and said: “I’m not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup. We still have VAR? It’s working?
“I have some doubts about that because another penalty that they need give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England (was missed).”
American official Armando Villarreal was VAR for Tuesday’s match in Foxborough, where Said Martinez of Honduras was referee.
Queiroz continued: “We had our chances to the point that they’re lucky. They’re very lucky.
“Once again, VAR went for a coffee. It’s natural, I would like to also take my coffees once in a while, but it was a clear penalty, red card.
“You have any doubts about that? You guys who saw the game have any doubts about that or is it only me that was in the game?
“At the end of the day, that’s why I say it was a fair result.
“They play more time with the ball, we fight more, we fight better, we create our chances, they have chances at the end.
“I think they are happy and I am happy also with the draw.
“I’m sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say these kind of things seriously they punish me, so I hope you understand that I’m joking.”
