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Argentina boss criticizes VAR after Messi denied winner

Argentina v Paraguay - South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
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The Argentina manager has called for consistency from the video officials after his side were denied a second-half goal against Paraguay.

Angel Romero put Paraguay on the front foot from the spot in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers match against Argentina on Thursday night.

Nicolas Gonzalez sent a bullet header past Antony Silva to put things on level terms just before the half-time break.

Lionel Messi then side-footed home and it appeared as if he had produced a turnaround in the match. Messi’s strike, however, was chalked off after the VAR spotted an earlier infringement during the build-up to the goal.

La Albiceleste ended up picking just a point from the match to make it seven points from three World Cup qualifier games.

“I think that in some way it is necessary to seek to unify the issue of the VAR,” said Scaloni after the match, hinting at disapproval for VAR’s decision to rule out his team’s second goal, via Goal.

“I am not talking in good or bad faith, but to unify criteria.”

Scaloni added on another foul on Exequiel Palacios: “We are left without a player for several days or months. The knock was there and VAR didn’t review it.” 

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