Published on 6/24/2026
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz mocked the VAR refereeing staff, saying the VAR might have gone for coffee, after claiming England had escaped with a penalty and a red card.
In the match between the two teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which ended with a negative score of 0-0.
After both teams won their opening matches in Group 12, the well-organized Black Stars team fell back and frustrated German coach Thomas Tuchel’s men on a cloudy afternoon in Massachusetts.
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England controlled the course of the game and directed 19 shots, but that was not enough to prevent the match from ending in a scoreless draw at Boston Stadium, as Ghana’s calls for a penalty kick in the final minutes due to Ezri Konsa’s intervention on Prince Addo were of no avail.
The substitute player had been injured shortly before in a collision with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who was awarded a free kick instead of a penalty kick.
Queiroz mocks the “mouse”
During the press conference that followed the match, Queiroz looked at a FIFA official and said: “I am not sure that VAR still works in the World Cup. Are we still using it? Does it really work?”
He added: “I have some doubts about that, because another penalty kick should have been given to Ghana, a clear penalty kick against England that was ignored.”
American referee Armando Villarreal was the video assistant referee for the match held in Foxboro, while Honduran Said Martinez was the field referee.
The Portuguese coach continued in his statements: “We had so many chances that they were lucky. They were very lucky.”
He explained: “Once again, the video assistant referee went to drink coffee. This is normal, as I also like to drink my coffee from time to time, but it was a clear penalty kick, deserving of a red card.”
He asked: “Do you have any doubts about that? Do you, who watched the match, have any doubts about that, or am I the only one who was present on the field?”
A draw satisfies everyone
He pointed out: “In the end, that’s why I say it was a fair result. They have the ball longer, we fight more, we fight better, we create our chances, while they have chances in the end.”
Queiroz concluded his speech by saying: “I think they are happy, and I am also happy with the draw. I apologize for my sarcasm, but if I said this seriously, they would punish me, so I hope you understand that I am joking.”
Ghana occupies second place in the group standings with four points, on goal difference behind the leading England team and equal with it on the same score, as the two teams are one point ahead of the Croatia team, which is in third place, and the Panama team is at the bottom of the standings without points, officially leaving the competition.
Ghana will play Croatia in the final round, which will witness another confrontation between England and Panama.
