Graeme Souness and Roy Keane's half-time analysis descended into a war of words during Argentina's World Cup opener, as the pair failed to agree on a VAR decision.
Taking on Saudi Arabia in the opening Group C match, the South Americans were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute when a VAR review adjudged Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid to have hauled down Leandro Paredes on the box.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi tucked away the spot kick. But when the decision was discussed at half-time by ITV Sport, former Liverpool captain Souness and Keane were miles apart in their views, leading to clear friction live on-air.
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With match-day host Laura Woods acting as referee and fellow pundit Joe Cole hovering on the sidelines, the transcription went as follows:
Laura Woods: Don’t make eye contact with Roy, don’t do it.
Joe Cole: I think it was a penalty.
Graeme Souness: I thought we moved on from that.
Roy Keane: We’re going to see a record number of penalties at this World Cup, record number. That’s not a penalty.
GS: The ball has come in, he’s not looking at the ball. The directive from the referee is that’s a penalty, we have to accept that’s a penalty. We’ve seen a different Argentina today, it’s not the Argentina I expected to see, they don’t seem too intent on dominating the ball. I just feel Argentina have another gear to go into.
RK: Go ahead, go ahead.
GS: You learn a lot more if you listen than talk all the time.
RK: Go ahead.
GS: Let someone else speak.
RK: That’s not a penalty.
GS: I’ve heard you say it 10 times. Do you want to say it again?
RK: That’s my opinion, that’s why I’m here. I’m here to give my opinion, that’s a penalty. I’m here to give my opinion that’s not a penalty
GS: Their interpretation, the new laws…
RK: That’s not a penalty
GS: Their interpretation…
RK: Well what are we here for? I’m here to give my opinion.
GS: This is not about our opinions, it’s about the laws of the game.
RK: Well I’m here to give my opinion. That’s not a penalty.
GS: This is not about opinion, that’s a fact, the guy wasn’t looking at the ball.
RK: I heard exactly what she said. It’s going to encourage diving.
GS: Roy, you’re not listening to what Laura is saying. The directive from referees…
RK: No, no, no. All this will do is encourage diving. He’s dragging him down, he’s dragging him down!
Graeme Souness on penalty: He’s not watching the ball, Laura. He doesn’t know where the ball is, he’s only interested in the Argentinian player, he doesn’t know when it’s been kicked, he’s not watching and that is a penalty.
Roy Keane on penalty: I don’t think it’s been great. Argentina had a good start but to me looked like they were going through the motions, I don’t think it was a penalty, Saudi Arabia are doing well to be fair to them, they’re hanging in there, playing a high line - obviously a dangerous game to play. They got lucky once or twice, they need to do better on set-pieces but overall disappointed with Argentina, need to see more, going through the motions a bit.
Despite taking an early lead, Argentina were eventually beaten 2-1 in what will surely prove to be one of the tournament's biggest shock results.
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