Scotland ‘lucky’ as BBC duo clash over Brazil goal disallowed by VAR

Scotland were branded lucky after Brazil had a second goal controversially disallowed in the first half of their Group C decider in Miami on Wednesday night. A mistake from Scott McKenna allowed Vinicius Junior to put the five-time winners 1-0 up after just seven minutes, and the Real Madrid forward thought he’d made it 2-0 after 23 minutes from another error. Jack Hendry was caught on the ball and Vini Jnr slid his finish beyond Angus Gunn in the Scotland goal to spark joy inside the Hard Rock Stadium. It left the Scots staring at another agonising World Cup group stage exit.

But after a VAR check, Mexican referee Cesar Ramos, contentiously ruled out the goal. It was judged that Vini Jr fouled Hendry by sticking his foot in front of the Al-Ettifaq man’s before he tried to play a pass. After the decision, BBC consulted Darren Cann live during their broadcast, with the former Premier League referee declaring Steve Clarke’s men lucky not to be 2-0 down. He said: “I think Scotland are a little fortunate to be honest. There is a little contact before the ball is played but I don’t really feel that it’s a foul by Vini Jr, he’s just holding his ground and the defender just kicks into him. I think it’s one Scotland will be decided with but they are a little fortunate to get the decision.”

Ex-Scotland international James McFadden was on co-commentary for his country’s final group match in North America, and made it abundantly clear he disagreed with Cann.

Watching the replays of the foul before the goal was disallowed, McFadden said: “He has [been fouled]. He has. Absolutely [a bullet dodged]. He just catches him on the right leg as he’s going to play the ball, gets his foot in front of where Jack Hendry’s playing it.”

Asked if he then agreed with Cann after the former official’s comments, McFadden added: “No I don’t, I think it’s a foul. Whether it’s a slight contact or not, it’s a foul. When you see it back, clearly he’s caught as he’s in the action of kicking the ball which is enough to stop him playing the ball. He’s impeded.

“It’s a let-off and just another warning to say, at times, Brazil look like they don’t want to go and press until they decide they do and they go and force them mistakes and capitalise.

“It’s a foul for me, he catches him and it’s the correct decision. It’s about time Scotland got a decision here.”

While former Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva said: “In my opinion, it wasn’t a foul. Let’s see what the VAR and the referee experts will say. For me it’s not a foul.”

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Just as it appeared that Scotland would go into the break only one goal down in Miami, Vini Jnr scored a legal second goal as he headed in from Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes’ cross.

Andy Robertson was guilty of giving the ball away inside his own box box and Nathan Patterson lost his man, with Angus Gunn also getting caught under the ball, to leave Vini Jnr with a simple header into an empty net at the back post.

Defeat by two or more goals would leave Scotland sweating over their World Cup fate. They are hoping to go through as one of the best third-placed teams thanks to their three-point haul courtesy of beating Haiti 1-0 in their opener.

But a 1-0 loss to Morocco and the scoreline against the Brazilians leaves them with a negative goal difference that could yet see them denied a spot in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time in their history, depending on results elsewhere.

Pre-match, Scotland skipper Robertson had said: “It’s one that we look forward to. We are playing against a massive country, the most iconic in World Cups, obviously most decorated.

“But it also gives us an opportunity to achieve our dreams as well. We want to achieve history for our little country. We have an opportunity to do that tomorrow night.”

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