Football will always produce debatable calls but, considering this has been the first AFC Asian Cup where VAR has been employed for the entirety of the tournament, things have been relatively smooth sailing thus far.
All that has now changed after a huge moment of controversy changed the complexion of Monday’s round of 16 clash between Iraq and Jordan — which ultimately finished a 3-2 win to the latter as they produced a miraculous comeback with two goals deep in injury-time.
The sheer drama and excitement that was served up will however certainly be overshadowed, and it will not be surprising if Iraq are crying foul in days and weeks to follow.
In what proved to be a bruising encounter, things were originally as fair spirited as they could be and it was Jordan who would take the lead right on the stroke of halftime through a Yazan Al-Naimat effort.
What followed initially looked like it would be looked back as one of the more memorable goal celebrations at the Asian Cup, as Al-Naimat ran off the field of play before gathering with four other teammates — sitting down cross-legged behind the substitutes benches while mimicking the action of eating with one’s hands, as is common practice in many parts of Asia.
Saad Natiq would equalise for Iraq in the 68th minute, and then, the frequent figure of controversy would rear its ugly head eight minutes later.
