Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has defended his players’ reaction to a controversial penalty incident against England, insisting there was little they could do without risking disciplinary action.
The Black Stars felt aggrieved after a penalty appeal was waved away during their goalless draw with England, a decision that has continued to generate debate ahead of Ghana’s decisive FIFA World Cup Group L clash with Croatia.
Addressing suggestions that his players should have surrounded the referee to demand a review, Queiroz dismissed the idea, pointing to the risk of cautions.
“Should my players have protested for the penalty against England? People say they should have protested, but if they do it’s a yellow card,” the Ghana coach said.
Queiroz also questioned the effectiveness of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, arguing that the technology should eliminate such contentious moments.
“It’s been 10 years since VAR came. There is no excuse. It came to help the referees. We hope it will be better in the coming years,” he added.
The experienced tactician’s comments reflect the lingering frustration within the Ghana camp over the incident, with many believing the Black Stars were denied a crucial opportunity against one of the tournament favourites.
Despite the controversy, Ghana remain firmly focused to the pivotal encounter with Croatia, where another disciplined performance would project the team positively.
