Uefa denies sexism row over 'unacceptable' Var provision at Euro 2022
Uefa have categorically denied an accusation from Sweden that fewer resources are being put into Var for the Women's Euros compared to the men's competition. Instead, Uefa claim that there are actually even more cameras for offside decisions compared to last summer's men's event.
The Swedes, England's semi-final opponents, said on Monday that the governing body were "unacceptably" using fewer cameras to monitor Var decisions in this summer's tournament. The Olympic finalists were understood to have sent a complaint to Uefa after they saw a Rebecka Blomqvist goal disallowed for offside during their group-stage victory over the Swiss, with replays appearing indecisive as to whether the decision was the correct one.
However, in a statement on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for European football's governing body said: "The TV production for Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 is on a par with the standard production for the men’s Uefa Champions League.
"More importantly, Var camera support at Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 is higher than for the men’s Uefa Champions League and men’s Uefa Euros due to the availability of additional offside and EPTS cameras."
Sweden's attacking midfielder Kosovare Asllani, speaking during her team's pre-match press conference ahead of facing hosts England at Bramall Lane, had said: "Using 50 per cent fewer cameras in our tournament than in the men’s game, that’s a catastrophe really because the decisions can’t be made with the same precision."
The Sweden camp's suggestion that the Var resources had been reduced compared to 12 months ago is understood to have largely stemmed from some critical punditry in the Swedish media from Swedish former Fifa referee Jonas Eriksson, who accused this summer's officials of drawing the offside lines incorrectly for a decision that went against the Scandinavian outfit in the group stages.
Sweden head coach Peter Gerhardsson had added: "I think it’s strange because I like Var, I think it’s fair when they have it, but if we have one game where they make a mistake, and we heard they don’t have the same number of cameras, for me it’s not acceptable.
"If they drew the line incorrectly, then [somebody] is incompetent at their job. Talking about the cameras, there shouldn’t be a difference whether it’s women’s or men’s football. It’s not good enough that there are goals that are disallowed that way when Var is incorrect.
"My feeling is, sometimes we put too much trust in Var - we’re going to have to hope that they’ve looked at improving themselves for the semi-final tomorrow."
This summer's Euros is the first women's version of the tournament in which Var has been used for the competition. The system is not yet in place in the top-flight in English women's football, the Women's Super League.
