Kylian Mbappe was controversially denied what appeared to be a clear penalty during France's World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday night. The Real Madrid star looked to be fouled in the box by Sadio Mane.
VAR Review Sparks Debate
Referee Alireza Faghani initially waved away appeals for a penalty before the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened. He was then advised to review the incident on the pitch‑side monitor.
Brought in by the BBC to give his thoughts, former referee Darren Cann was convinced the penalty would be given. "For me, this is a penalty," he said. "This will be checked by the VAR. For me there is no contact with the ball and he brings Mbappe down."
However, when addressing the crowd, Faghani said Mbappe had 'initiated contact' and stood by his initial decision. No penalty was awarded despite Faghani initially appearing to point to the spot.
Reaction from BBC Pundits
Loud cheers rang around the New York New Jersey Stadium from France supporters who thought they'd been given a penalty, but instead Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was instructed to take a goal kick - much to Mbappe's astonishment.
Alan Shearer, on co‑commentary duty for the BBC, could not believe the decision. "I don't get it. You can see the lunge from Mane and his left leg catches Mbappe," he said. "How can Mbappe initiate contact if he is in front of him? It's bizarre it really is."
Meanwhile, ex‑World Cup final assistant referee Cann hit back at the decision, adding: "I can't support the referee's decision to be honest. For me it is a clear penalty. My phone has blown up with messages from several of the world's best referees who also can't understand why a penalty wasn't given. For me it is very, very clear and I am extremely surprised he did not point to the spot after a correct VAR review."
Mbappe Scores Despite Controversy
Mbappe then went on to give France the lead with a stunning finish from a Michael Olise assist. The incident has sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits alike, with many questioning the consistency of VAR decisions at the tournament.
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