Ghana boss Queiroz fumes as VAR misses Konsa penalty in England's goalless World Cup draw

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz launched a pointed attack on VAR officials after Ezri Konsa escaped punishment for a late challenge on Prince Kwabena Adu in England’s 0-0 World Cup draw with Ghana. The incident, which went unpenalised, has dominated the post-match discussion from the fixture played on Tuesday.

Adu was brought down inside the box by Konsa, who replays showed made no contact with the ball. Play had briefly paused for an offside call against Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo — who the ball struck after Adu managed to get a shot away — and the penalty appeal was lost in the confusion that followed.

“It’s a clear penalty, and a red card,” Queiroz told reporters. “Do you have any doubts about that, or was it only me who was at the game? I am sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say this kind of thing seriously, they punish me. So I am joking.” He added, with deliberate irony, that VAR appeared to have gone “for a coffee.”

The criticism was not confined to the Ghana camp. Former England striker Ian Wright acknowledged his side were fortunate. “I think we were fortunate in that game in the end,” Wright said. “Because we didn’t do enough creatively and I thought we were very fortunate with that Konsa challenge.”

Ex-England right-back Gary Neville was equally unambiguous. “I thought it was such a certain definite penalty,” he said. “The Konsa one I thought was 100 per cent a penalty.”

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann also argued the incident should have been sent to the on-field referee for review. “Konsa makes no contact with the ball, he brings down his opponent. He’s airborne, he’s out of control, he makes contact with the attacker and no contact with the ball,” Cann said. “For me, this is a penalty kick. I’m very glad that was not an eighth” — referring to the seven spot-kicks already awarded at the tournament.

The draw came as a sobering contrast to England’s 4-2 opening win against Croatia, though head coach Thomas Tuchel pushed back against suggestions his squad needed a wake-up call. “Everyone is alert and everyone is fully committed,” Tuchel said. “There can be no doubt. There was no overconfidence in our game.”