Sweden’s Asllani labels Euro VAR as disastrous ahead of England’s semi-final | Women’s European Championship 2022
Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani criticized the implementation of VAR at the European Championships before her team’s semi-final against England at Bramall Lane. Sweden has had five goals ruled out by the technique in four games.
“Using 50% fewer cameras in our tournament than the men’s, it’s really a disaster,” Asllani said. “The decisions cannot be made with the same precision. It’s not just for us, for other teams as well. There are situations where I think you should have more cameras, it can be really decisive.”
Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson joined Asllani in her criticism and memories of Rebecka Blomqvist’s effort against Switzerland and Stina Blackstenius’ goal in the quarter-final loss to Belgium sparked frustration. Blackstenius was deemed offside but the Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson pointed out that the line was drawn incorrectly.
– That line is completely wrong, says Eriksson to Expressen. “You must draw the line at the penultimate player’s most defensive point, but if the ball is in front of that player, it is the ball’s most offensive point that counts. However, in this case the video referee has drawn the line from the most defensive point of the ball, alternatively from the second last player’s forehead. But in any case, both are wrong.”
Gerhardssson said: “I think it’s strange. I like VAR, I think it’s fair when they have it, but if we have a game where they make a mistake because they draw the line on the wrong side and now we’ve heard they don’t have the same cameras, to me it’s not acceptable in one euro.
“We haven’t seen it ourselves, but a Swedish judge at home in a studio pointed out that they drew the line wrong… then you are incompetent at your job. Speaking of the cameras, it shouldn’t make any difference if it’s women’s or men’s football.”
The manager was also critical of the rule that allows five substitutes but prevents all five from warming up at the same time.
“We now have five changes, but you can only warm up three,” he said. “I don’t know if there is space, why can’t you have five warm-ups? If you don’t put in a player who is warmed up, that’s also something that I think is strange. Why can’t five people warm up together? They are friends, I can promise you.”
Sweden’s players are no strangers to the task of trying to upset a host nation. In 2016, Sweden beat Brazil on penalties at the Rio Olympics to advance to the final, where they lost to Germany.
Are they hoping to spoil England’s party? “My favorite question,” said Gerhardsson. “I don’t think about it at all because I always think about possibilities, that’s my view of everything. If you have an opportunity, then you have a feeling in your body that you can do it.”
Asllani said: “It means a lot for the whole team. We’re playing the semi-final against the host nation, we’ve done that before against Brazil in the Olympics in an arena three times bigger than this. It’s a special feeling to walk into a stadium with home fans. We’re going to do everything we can. I don’t think you could be more excited and ready. We’re sticking to the game plan and I think we have a good chance tomorrow.
The Chelsea captain, Magda Eriksson, has been impressed by England. “I’ve been really impressed with England so far, this is going to be the toughest test yet, it’s the best team we’re going to face but we’re so ready for this,” she said.
“This game is what we have dreamed of, to reach the next stage we will do everything we can.”