“How is that not a red card? Someone explain it to me because I’m struggling to understand what VAR is actually looking at. If that’s not serious foul play, then what is? “- Thierry Henry on Torbjørn Heggem avoiding a red card for his challenge on Jude Bellingham.

“How is that not a red card? Someone explain it to me because I’m struggling to understand what VAR is actually looking at. If that’s not serious foul play, then what is? “- Thierry Henry on Torbjørn Heggem avoiding a red card for his challenge on Jude Bellingham.

The referee had the perfect chance to step up and protect one of the game’s biggest stars—and completely froze.

Then VAR gets involved, with every angle, every replay, every slow-motion zoom, and still somehow decides not to send him off. That is simply not good enough.

We’re constantly told VAR is there to fix clear and obvious errors. Well, here’s a clear and obvious error—and they’ve still managed to botch it.

What’s the point of all that technology if the people operating it lack the backbone to make the right call?

Jude Bellingham was fortunate to walk away from that challenge. It was reckless, dangerous, and completely avoidable.

If officials keep letting tackles like that slide, they’re sending a dangerous message—that you can gamble with an opponent’s safety and face no real consequence.

Between them, the referee and VAR have lost full control of this match. This isn’t just about poor officiating anymore—they’re actively shaping the outcome of one of the biggest fixtures in world football. And that is nowhere near acceptable.