Faghani's Contentious Decisions in England's Win
Referee Alireza Faghani was at the centre of a storm during England's 3-2 round of 16 victory over Mexico, making several high-profile decisions that split opinion. The Australian-Iranian official awarded two penalties, sent off England's Jarrell Quansah, and drew a furious response from England manager Thomas Tuchel, who called the officiating 'not good enough'.
Red Card and Penalty Calls
Faghani's first major call came early in the second half when Quansah initially escaped punishment for a high challenge. After VAR intervention, Faghani reviewed the monitor and issued a red card, a decision backed by Alan Shearer, who said the replay looked 'horrible'. Minutes later, Faghani awarded England a penalty after Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon. Then, in the most controversial moment, he gave Mexico a penalty after Harry Kane was adjudged to have fouled an opponent, setting up a tense finish as Mexico scored to make it 3-2 against 10-man England.
Shearer and Tuchel React
Alan Shearer, commentating for the BBC, disagreed with the penalty against Kane: 'Kane does clip the player's foot but that is not enough to give a penalty for me. That's a kick of the foot, that's not a penalty for me.' However, former Premier League official Darren Cann supported the call. Thomas Tuchel launched a scathing attack: 'Just not good enough. The referees just aren't good enough, fourth officials just not good enough. It's the bottom line.' He also questioned the VAR team, noting three South American officials were involved in a match of this magnitude.
Fans Divided Over Faghani's Performance
Despite Tuchel's criticism, many fans praised Faghani. One said: 'Alireza Faghani is the most experienced referee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup; the only center referee in history to be appointed to four consecutive FIFA World Cups. Based on performance, he deserves to be the referee for the World Cup Final.' Another added: 'He has been spotless and completely fair throughout this World Cup.' However, critics were equally vocal: 'The worst refereeing so far in this World Cup... Alireza Faghani,' one fan said, while another called him 'the worst referee I've ever seen'.
England Advance to Quarter-Finals
Despite the controversy, goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane secured England's place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway on Saturday night. Faghani's performance has sparked a wider debate about refereeing standards at the tournament.
