EUROPEAN soccer governing body UEFA said Monday the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic meant plans to use video assistant referees (VARs) in the European 2022 World Cup qualifiers had to be abandoned after a weekend in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s anger at being denied a late winner for Portugal against Serbia highlighted the lack of technology to help officials.

“In 2019, UEFA had proposed to FIFA the implementation of VAR in the current World Cup qualifiers. The impact of the pandemic on operational and logistical capabilities led UEFA to delay the implementation of VAR in the Europa League group phase as well as to withdraw the proposal to implement VAR in the 2022 European qualifiers,” UEFA said in a statement.

VARs are now set to come into the Europa League group stage as of next season. It follows several moments of controversy since the start of qualifying last week for the Qatar World Cup, with the Ronaldo flashpoint casting a light on the lack of any goal-line technology (GLT).

Ronaldo thought he had scored a stoppage-time winner for Portugal in Belgrade as footage appeared to show the ball had crossed the line before Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic could clear.

The Portugal captain was booked for protesting by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie as play was waved on and the game finished in a 2-2 draw. Ronaldo threw away his captain’s armband in disgust at full-time.

Portuguese sports daily A Bola on Monday published an interview with Makkelie in which the official said he had apologized to coach Fernando Santos and the Portugal team.

Spain defender Inigo Martinez also claimed that a penalty given against his side in a 1-1 draw with Greece would not have been awarded had VARs been available.(SD-Agencies)