Alireza Faghani, the referee for Sunday's World Cup clash between England and Mexico, has come under scrutiny for a controversial decision earlier in the tournament. The 48-year-old Iranian official, who is officiating at his third World Cup, drew widespread criticism for not awarding France a penalty in their 3-1 win over Senegal.
Controversial no-penalty call against Senegal
In the France vs Senegal match, Kylian Mbappe appeared to be fouled by Sadio Mane in the penalty area. Faghani initially did not give a spot-kick, and after a VAR review, he still chose not to award a penalty, instead signaling a goal kick. His explanation was that Mbappe had initiated the contact, a view that few agreed with.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told the BBC: '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.' He added: 'I can’t support the referee’s decision to be honest. For me it is a clear penalty.'
Former players and officials react
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin dismissed Faghani's reasoning, calling it 'utter nonsense.' He said: 'No chance at all. How can he have initiated the contact? The most nonsensical line I have ever heard.'
Alan Shearer also weighed in, stating: 'I don’t get it. 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.'
Concerns over Faghani's suitability for England vs Mexico
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey expressed concerns about Faghani's appointment for the England-Mexico match, telling The Sun: 'I am concerned about Alireza Faghani’s appointment for England’s crunch last-16 tie in Mexico. For a ref of his experience, I thought it was strange he did not overturn his original decision of awarding a corner and point to the spot.' Halsey added that he did not expect Faghani to be awarded another game at the World Cup, noting that FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina is typically ruthless over below-par performances.
Faghani previously refereed Portugal's draw with Colombia earlier in the tournament. Despite the controversy, the decision did not affect the result of the France-Senegal match, but it has raised questions about his judgment heading into a high-stakes knockout game.
