FIFA World Cup 2022: Greatest show on Earth returns
At its best and its worst, the FIFA World Cup is more thrilling than any other event can conjure up. A live performance unequalled in its vigour and trickery, the thralling geometry of its movement a mere foil to the violent earnestness of its combat. From 1930 to 2022, from Pele to Zidane to Mbappe, here's a walk down the lanes of the history of the beautiful game
By: Madhu Kapparath
2018
Turning to VAR
It was inevitable that the first World Cup to feature Video Assistant Referee (VAR) would turn to it at a pivotal moment in the final. Ivan Perisic arguably handballed the missed cross unintentionally near Croatian goal. The referee turned to VAR slo-mo replays, took awhile and awarded France a spot kick. France went on to win the Cup. Real time and slow-motion replays tell different tales. The talking point with the verdict is that the given decision may be in keeping with the letter of the law, but less so in the spirit of the game, well, sometimes.
