THE SPORTSMISTAKES RECORD

Croatia France VAR Handball Final

2018 • Soccer • Referee Mistake • VAR Penalty
Croatia France VAR Handball Final — SportsMistakes artwork

THE STORY

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup final on July 15, 2018, at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, referee Néstor Pitana awarded France a penalty kick after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a handball by Croatia's Ivan Perišić. This decision, made in the 38th minute, led to Antoine Griezmann's goal, giving France a 2-1 lead over Croatia. (si.com)

TEAMS / PEOPLE: France, Croatia

WHY IT MATTERS

This incident marked the first use of VAR in a World Cup final, sparking widespread debate over the accuracy and impact of the decision on the match's outcome.

JUDGE AND LEARN VOTE • PICK 3 REASONS • ADD YOUR TAKE

SOURCES