Controversial VAR penalty call sparks global referee debate in 2026 World Cup

France striker Kylian Mbappe’s non-awarded penalty in the opening match against Senegal drew widespread criticism from top referees and pundits.

Key match incident France striker Kylian Mbappe went down inside the penalty area during the 58th minute of a goalless match against Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium, following a challenge by opposing forward Sadio Mane. Referee Alireza Faghani was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor before returning to make a call. Fans erupted in celebration when Faghani initially appeared to signal for a penalty, but the decision was quickly corrected to a goal-kick after officials determined Mbappe had initiated contact. ## Referee decision sparks outrage The reversal sparked immediate confusion among spectators and generated a wave of criticism from elite match officials. Darren Cann, who served as an assistant referee in the 2010 World Cup final, revealed his device was flooded with messages from top referees questioning why no spot-kick was awarded. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin, covering the game, described the ruling as a 'rubbish decision', adding, 'No chance at all. How can he [Mbappe] have initiated the contact? The most nonsensical line I have ever heard.' ## Pundits question referee logic Former England captain Alan Shearer, present at the match, labeled the decision 'bizarre' and pointed to visual evidence of Mane lunging with his left leg, which made contact with Mbappe. 'You can see the lunge from Mane and his left leg catches Mbappe. How can Mbappe initiate contact if he is in front of him? It's bizarre it really is,' Shearer remarked. Cann also expressed strong disagreement, stating, 'I can't support the referee's decision to be honest. For me it is very, very clear and I am extremely surprised he did not point to the spot after a correct VAR review.' ## France secure victory despite VAR drama Despite the contentious moment, France went on to defeat Senegal by a 3-1 scoreline, with Mbappe scoring two goals to secure the win for the two-time world champions. The match result allowed Mbappe to surpass Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals in his 99th appearance for the national team. Additionally, Mbappe became France’s top scorer in World Cup history, reaching 14 goals across 15 tournament matches. ## Mbappe’s milestone moments Mbappe’s record-breaking performance included surpassing Giroud’s long-standing record of 51 goals for the French national team. He achieved the milestone in his 99th cap, further cementing his legacy as one of the country’s most prolific forwards. His two goals against Senegal also extended his World Cup tally to 14, overtaking legends of the French game. The forward, playing for Real Madrid, continues to redefine scoring records both domestically and on the global stage.