FIFA microphone blunder lets TV viewers hear referee Taylor's VAR calls live

A FIFA production error during Senegal’s 5-0 Group Stage victory over Iraq in Toronto on Saturday allowed television viewers to hear Premier League referee Anthony Taylor’s live conversations with the VAR room, in what amounted to an unprecedented and unintended look behind the curtain of World Cup officiating.

A camera positioned next to the pitchside monitor at Toronto Stadium picked up Taylor’s audio feed as the Manchester-born official reviewed a challenge by Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka on former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané in the 10th minute. Sulaka had initially been shown a yellow card for hauling down Mané as he raced clear on goal, but Taylor was referred to the monitor and upgraded the decision.

Viewers heard Taylor work through the incident in real time with his video assistant referees and replay directors. “There’s a player on the far side who is going to get to the ball? Play it for me,” Taylor said. “So the next touch with the attacker, one touch forward and he shoots on goal, yes? The player on the far side will not get to the ball before he shoots.”

He then confirmed the decision over the public address system: “After review, the Iraq number two performs a deliberate holding offence and denies a clear goalscoring opportunity. No covering defenders, therefore my final decision is red card.”

Senegal made full use of their numerical advantage in the second half. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead before Pape Gueye scored twice, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout with eight minutes remaining. The 5-0 scoreline lifted Senegal to a goal difference of +2 and moved them to fifth in the third-place standings, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.

The result has significant knock-on consequences for Scotland, whose own last-32 hopes are hanging by a thread after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil. Steve Clarke’s side need a series of favourable results elsewhere to slip into the top eight third-placed teams and reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history. Senegal’s emphatic win has pushed Scotland outside the top eight, behind Algeria, who face Austria later in the group phase.