VAR used for first time in World Cup final

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used for the first time in a FIFA World Cup final to award France a 38th-minute penalty which Antoine Griezmann scored to give them a 2-1 lead over Croatia.

Referee Nestor Pitana is alerted to a possible handball before awarding France a VAR-assisted penalty Source: Getty Images

Referee Nestor Pitana was alerted to a possible handball and after checking the off-field screen he decided Ivan Perisic had handled the ball in trying to clear a France set-piece.

The match at the Luzhniki Stadium had already seen the first own goal in a FIFA World Cup final when the ball flicked off Croatia striker Mario Manduzkic and past his own goalkeeper to put France 1-0 up after 18 minutes.

FIFA have declared the use of VAR at the World Cup in Russia a success.

France went on to win the game 4-2 to claim the FIFA World Cup.