Carlos Queiroz blasts VAR after England draw: 'it went for a coffee break'
Ghana's coach was scathing about an unawarded penalty and Pickford escaping a red card. Queiroz also played down a clash with Bellingham in the 0-0 stalemate.
Carlos Queiroz did not leave the dressing room with his thoughts to himself. After Ghana and England played out a goalless draw in the 2026 World Cup group stage, the Ghanaian manager faced the press and tore into the video-review system with a cutting sense of irony.
The main flashpoint was an incident involving player Adu in the 33rd minute of the second half. Queiroz demanded a penalty that was never given and also called for Pickford to be sent off for a foul outside his area — a red-card offence in his view. Nothing was reviewed. And he made sure everyone knew about it.
"Is VAR still working? Do we still have VAR?" he asked, according to ge. Then came the line that will do the rounds on social media: "It didn't miss it because it was on holiday. If VAR hadn't gone for a coffee, it would have awarded the penalty and we would have won the game."
With the sarcasm still hanging in the air, he even offered an apology of sorts: "Forgive the sarcasm. But when I speak seriously, I get punished. I'm joking."
There was more. Queiroz revealed that Bellingham had directed an insult toward the Ghanaian bench during the match — but he brushed the episode off lightly. "It's part of the game," he said. "A swear word that can create a bit of tension. But at the end of the day, it's just football." No drama.
The draw leaves Group L wide open. England face Panama in the final round, while Ghana take on Croatia — both matches in the United States, at 18:00 (Brasília time). Golmetria's model gives England a 93% chance of advancing, but Ghana still have everything to play for and their fate in their own hands.
VAR's coffee break may have come at a steep price. Or maybe not. Saturday will have the answer.