World Cup 2018: Bjorn Kuipers got both controversial penalty decisions right as Russia KO’d Spain
SunSport's reffing expert looks at the incidents that split pundits and social media before the hosts won on a shootout
SUNSPORT'S reffing expert looks at the two incidents that split the pundits and social media before Russia toppled Spain on penalties.
The World Cup hosts sneaked into the quarter-finals after defying Spain's huge dominance of possession in a 1-1 draw.
Sergei Ignashevich's incredible own goal put Fernando Hierro's stylists in front on 12 minutes.
But some pundits questioned the decision that led to Artem Dzyuba's spot-kick leveller for Russia just before the interval.
And Twitter was full of conspiracy theories when Russia escaped conceding a late penalty following a VAR referral.
Many tweets even claimed the video refs would have been too scared to go against Russian president Vladimir Putin at such a pivotal moment.
Here, our columnist and former Premier League referee gives his verdict:
It was not a penalty on Sergio Ramos in extra-time.
He falls dramatically — but he and Ilya Kutepov have a hold of each other.
Exactly the same applies for the tussle between Spain star Gerard Pique and Sergei Ignashevich.
Dutch ref Bjorn Kuipers correctly ruled that Pique deliberately raised his arm for Russia’s penalty.
