Shilton: VAR would have ruled out Maradona's 1986 goals

Peter Shilton says video assistant referees would have changed the course of the 1986 World Cup, removing what became known as the ‘Hand of God’, the wonder goal and, ultimately, Diego Maradona’s tournament win. Maradona’s most memorable performance came in the quarter-final against England at the Azteca Stadium.

The first goal was fashioned when Maradona touched the ball over Shilton’s head with a clenched fist while match officials missed the offence. The second saw the Argentine run half the length of the pitch, beat several defenders, round Shilton and finish what soon became labelled the ‘Goal of the Century’.

Shilton has argued that, had VAR existed, both strikes would have been disallowed, noting that Glenn Hoddle was tackled wrongly before the second. He said he believed England could have gone on to win the tournament and that he wished the technology had been available that day.

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