Iran coach Carlos Queiroz lashed out at FIFA and the VAR system after side drew 1-1 with Portugal and were eliminated from the World Cup.
Queiroz was angered that Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was not issued a red card when his elbow struck Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji in the face late in the game.
The Portuguese tactician insisted that Ronaldo was received preferential treatment, suggesting the referee could have received instructions not to send off the Real Madrid star during a VAR review for that elbow.
“You stop the game for VAR, there is an elbow. Elbow. Elbow is a red card in the rules, the rules doesn’t say if it’s Messi or Ronaldo,” said the Iran coach, as quoted by The Mirror.
“I don’t know if it was this but we have the right to know.
“We don’t know if it was the referee or the guys upstairs [who decided]. This game belongs to the people not to a couple of guys behind the scenes.
“My suggestion, Mr Infantino, they have to put up their hand and say: ‘Sorry, VAR is not working so we have to stop it,’ or the communication must be clear like rugby, when everybody knows what is going on.”
Iran held Portugal to a draw after a late penalty, and finished their campaign in the third position of the group, with one point behind Spain and Portugal.
