FIFA World Cup 2018 matches penalties record before knockout rounds

The use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system has contributed hugely to the spike, and it was employed again to set up Saudi Arabia’s Salman Al-Faraj for his spot kick during their FIFA World Cup 2018 game vs Egypt.

Salman Al-Faraj’s penalty for Saudi Arabia in their Group A match against Egypt on Monday was the 18th of the World Cup, matching the all-time record tally set at the 2002 tournament hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Saudi Arabia's Salman Al-Faraj scored the FIFA World Cup 2018’s eighteenth penalty in their Group A game vs Egypt. (REUTERS)

In Brazil four years ago, there were only 13 penalties in the entire tournament.

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The use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system has contributed hugely to the spike, and it was employed again to set up Al-Faraj for his spot kick.

Al-Faraj’s penalty was the second awarded in the match.

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Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Al-Muwallad was given a penalty after a foul in the box in the 39th minute but his effort was saved by the keeper.