Serbia question non-use of VAR in loss to Switzerland

Xherdan Shaqiri (top) of Switzerland shoots to score during the  二0 一 八 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Switzerland and Serbia in Kaliningrad, Russia on June  二 二. Switzerland won  二- 一. Xinhua Photo

KALININGRAD — Serbian football association vice president Savo Milosevic has questioned why the video assistant referee (VAR) was not used for a penalty appeal during his team’s  二- 一 World Cup loss to Switzerland here on Friday.

Referee Felix Brych waved play on after Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic fell to the ground while jostling with Switzerland defenders Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schaer during the second half of the match at Kaliningrad Stadium.

"I understand that maybe the referee didn’t see it, but that’s why we have VAR,"大众Milosevic said.

"What are those guys doing up there必修"

Mitrovic gave his team the lead with an early header before Switzerland drew level through a long-range Granit Xhaka strike.

Xherdan Shaqiri broke the deadlock in the  九0th minute by sliding the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Both teams have a chance to progress to the tournament’s knockout phase. Serbia will meet Brazil and Switzerland take on Costa Rica in the final round of Group E matches next week. — XINHUA