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Maradona backs VAR but admits 'Hand of God' goal wouldn't count

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One of the most controversial goals in World Cup history wouldn't have counted if Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology existed at the time, admits former Argentina star Maradona.

Leagues around the world are slowly beginning to incorporate the new technology after somewhat successful trials over the past couple of years, including this summer's Confederations Cup in Russia.

With the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer set to introduce VAR this year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the 2018 World Cup in Russia will use video assistants for the first time whenever "game-changing situations" occur.

Despite being the architect of the infamous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona confessed that he backs the use of video replay in the modern game despite the fact that it would have likely cost Argentina during the country's 3-1 victory in the quarter-final encounter.

"Obviously I think about it whenever I show my support for the use of technology," he said in an interview on FIFA's website.

"I thought about it and, sure, that goal wouldn't have stood if technology had been around. And I'll tell you something else: At the 1990 World Cup I used my hand to clear the ball off the line against the Soviet Union. We were lucky because the referee didn't see it. You couldn't use technology back then, but it's a different story today."

He added: "Football can't fall behind. Given the rate at which technology is advancing and the fact that every sport uses it, how can we not think about using it in football?"

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

He pointed out that the English also benefited from the lack of technology 20 years earlier when Geoff Hurst was awarded a controversial goal during the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.

"It's not just my goal in '86 that wouldn't have counted," he said. "Let's not forget that England won the World Cup in '66 with a shot that didn't go over the line."

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