Edinson Cavani PUNCHES pitch-side VAR monitor after Uruguay players chase officials down the tunnel as frustration boils over in on-pitch melee following World Cup exit despite 2-0 win over Ghana
- Relive the action as Ghana and Uruguay were eliminated despite La Celeste win
- Edinson Cavani vented his frustration at Uruguay's early exit in violent outburst
- The former Man United forward threw a pitch-side VAR monitor to the floor
- Uruguay players chased Daniel Siebert down the tunnel after full-time on Friday
- Luis Suarez was left in tears on the bench following his side's early elimination
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Edinson Cavani unleashed his anger at Uruguay's early World Cup exit on the pitch-side VAR monitor as his side left the field of play at full-time.
Cavani came off the bench on 65 minutes for long-time strike partner Luis Suarez but was unable to steer his side to a third goal and was one of a number of players to surround the referee after the match.
However the full brunt of Cavani's fury was aimed at the VAR screen, with the Valencia striker throwing it to the ground as he walked past it on his way to the dressing room with his defeated team-mates.
![Edinson Cavani vented his fury on the pitch-side VAR monitor as Uruguay players lost their collective cool at the referee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/19/65184275-11496297-image-a-26_1670009714610.jpg)
Edinson Cavani vented his fury on a pitch-side VAR monitor after Uruguay's elimination
![La Celeste felt they should have been given a penalty for Alidu Seidu's tackle on Darwin Nunez](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/19/65185277-11496297-image-a-29_1670009924060.jpg)
La Celeste felt they should have been given a penalty for Alidu Seidu's tackle on Darwin Nunez
A social media clip emerged not long after the final whistle which showed the Uruguayan team marching off in their despair.
The former Manchester United forward then broke away from the single-file line to vent his anger, hurling the screen to the floor, before continuing on his way into the dressing room.
It is unclear whether any damage was done to the monitor.
![Daniel Siebert reviewed the decision on the VAR monitor but awarded a handball against Nunez instead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/19/65185275-11496297-image-a-30_1670009974933.jpg)
Daniel Siebert reviewed the decision on the VAR monitor but awarded a handball against Nunez instead
And Cavani's behaviour was blasted by pundits after the game, with Ian Wright and Joe Cole slamming the veteran forward's attitude.
'What a horrible guy!' Wright said on ITV on Friday evening.
'It’s terrible behaviour,' added Cole. 'You feel frustration but you have to keep your composure.
'You have a responsibility, the world is watching, kids are watching, that was six players around the referee, that is not a good look.'
![Joe Cole claimed players 'have a responsibility' to be model professionals with kids watching](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/21/65188727-11496297-image-a-77_1670016780477.jpg)
Joe Cole claimed players 'have a responsibility' to be model professionals with kids watching
The Uruguayan players felt aggrieved after not being awarded a penalty for a collision between Darwin Nunez and Alidu Seidu and a flurry of bookings were shown by Daniel Siebert after the match.
And it did not stop there, as almost the entire 26-man Uruguay squad chased the referee and his assistants from the pitch and down the tunnel, accompanied by an unrelenting torrent of remonstration.
Both Cavani and ever-present defender Jose Maria Gimenez were booked for their protests, with one of Siebert's assistant referees manhandled in the melee.
![The Uruguayan players chased the match officials down the tunnel in a furious melee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/19/65185191-11496297-image-a-27_1670009829167.jpg)
The Uruguayan players chased the match officials down the tunnel in a furious melee
And the furious reaction to their premature departure has sparked criticism on social media, with Chris Sutton saying: 'The blame game. Cavani cheats trying to win a penalty and then he and his teammates blame the referee… Uruguay are bad losers!'
Despite winning the hugely-anticipated Group H finale against old foes Ghana - courtesy of two first half strikes from Giorgian de Arrascaeta - La Celeste were eliminated at the expense of South Korea.
Son Heung-min and Co managed a shock 2-1 win over Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to knock Uruguay out on goals scored, managing a tally of four to Uruguay's two.
Legendary striker Suarez was also seen in tears as his side limped out of the tournament in an emotionally-charged climax to the game.
![Both sides were ultimately eliminated after Hwang Hee-chan's late strike for South Korea](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/19/65185267-11496297-image-a-31_1670010008869.jpg)
Both sides were ultimately eliminated after Hwang Hee-chan's late strike for South Korea
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