FIFA blunder exposed as referee VAR discussions leaked live on TV

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Premier League and World Cup referee Anthony Taylor saw his VAR check broadcast live on TV due to a FIFA error. The television camera was positioned next to the monitor at the Toronto Stadium in Canada where the Manchester-born official was heard in dialogue with colleagues in the VAR room.

The 47-year-old endured a busy afternoon as he took charge of the group stage finale between Senegal and Iraq . The African Cup of Nations winners needed to win well to boost their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages via the third-placed trap door and after 10 minutes, there had already been a goal and a red card.

Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka was initially shown a yellow card for hauling down former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane as he raced through on goal. However, after being referred to the monitor, Taylor upgraded it to a red card.

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Viewers were handed a privileged opportunity to hear the referee's dialogue with the video assistant referees and replay directors in the hub.

Taylor can be heard saying: "There's a player on the far side who is going to get to the ball? Play it for me. So the next touch with the attacker, one touch forward and he shoots on goal, yes?

"The player on the far side will not get to the ball before he shoots."

Then speaking over the PA to confirm the decision, he said: "After review, the Iraq number two performs a deliberate holding offence and denies a clear goalscoring opportunity.

"No covering defenders, therefore my final decision is red card."

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Senegal turned on the style in the second-half as they punished Iraq with their man advantage. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead before a Pape Gueye double created daylight and then eight minutes from time Everton's Iliman Ndiaye rounded of the scoring.

The five-goal rout took them to +2 goal difference and got their first points on the board to move them up to fifth in the third-place table.

It adds more uncertainty for Scotland as their World Cup knockout hopes hang on by a thread, following their 3-0 defeat to Brazil . Steve Clarke's side need results to go in their favour to slip into the last-32 and reach a knockout stage of the prestigious tournament for the first-time ever.