‘Robbed’: Uproar as penalty drama divides World Cup
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Penalty drama engulfed the World Cup on Thursday morning, sparking fierce debate among fans and pundits after VAR intervened to create two hot talking points.
Senegal was set for their first win in the knockout stages ever with a 2-0 lead after 86 minutes before a miraculous comeback from Belgium saw the match decided by a contentious penalty in the 125th minute. Earlier, in England’s 2-1 come-from-behind win over Congo, Harry Kane went down in the box with his team trailing 1-0 and had his penalty claim waved away, with some eagle-eyed viewers accusing him of diving.
Senegal's Lamine Camara, right, tackles Belgium's Youri Tielemans resulting in a penalty kick for Belgium. AP
Kane’s moment was inconsequential to the result, but the same couldn’t be said in the game that followed. Belgium’s Youri Tielemans was brought down through a challenge from Lamine Camara, prompting referee Said Martinez to award a penalty after a VAR review.
The decision ultimately cost Senegal a golden chance to advance, and that narrative played out heavily after fulltime.
“I think that’s really, really harsh on Senegal. They’ve had some pretty big decisions to against them, not just here but the Africa Cup of Nations as well,” Canadian commentator Craig Forrest said on the broadcast.
Former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic said the African nation was “robbed.”
“I don’t believe that was a penalty for Belgium. Senegal were robbed. The contact was minimal, the Belgian player made the most of it, and the referee bought it completely,” he told Fox Sports in the US.
“This is the problem with modern football. Attackers now understand that once they feel a little touch in the box, they go down and wait for VAR to reward them.
“For me, a penalty should be clear.
“It should be obvious. It should not be one of those decisions where you need 10 replays, three camera angles and five minutes of debate to convince people. To see such a big knockout game swing because of a soft penalty is painful.
“If I were Senegal, I’d be asking serious questions. This is becoming a pattern. First the AFCON final against Morocco, now another massive tournament, another huge match, another late penalty decision going against them.”
A couple of hours earlier, Kane felt hard done by when he was brought down in the box against DC Congo.
Just before halftime with England trailing 1-0, Kane was denied after a collision with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
Harry Kane falls in the penalty area. Getty Images
The England skipper was left bewildered by the call as the referee waved play on.
Former England captain Alan Shearer criticised the official, saying there’s “no doubt” it was a spot kick.
“There is contact, there is no doubt. For me that is a penalty. Kane may have made the most of it but the keeper has come out and his hands are there,” Shearer told the BBC.
“If he is going to come rushing out like that with his hands, as a forward you have every right to make connection and go down. That for me should have been a penalty.”
Speaking on the same broadcast, Wayne Rooney disagreed.
“I’m all for the forwards but I think he [Kane] trips himself a little bit and then he jumps into the goalkeeper a little bit,” he said.
Kane appeals the decision. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
“Yes, there’s contact, but I think by that little trip of himself and jumping into him with two feet, it’s probably the right decision. He stumps his toe of his right foot into the ground and he jumps into the goalkeeper.
“The goalkeeper has jumped out, he’s left himself in a position where the ref could give the penalty, but I think it looks like he’s dived into him so I think it’s probably not a penalty.”
