Wayne Rooney has weighed in on the controversial non-penalty decision during England's World Cup round of 32 clash against DR Congo, stating that referee Adham Mohammad made the correct call after Harry Kane went to ground in the box.
Incident Before Half-Time
The incident occurred shortly before half-time, with England trailing 1-0. Kane was played through on goal and attempted to round DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. As he touched the ball past Mpasi, Kane went down under a challenge and appealed for a penalty. Replays showed a slight push from defender Axel Tuanzebe that knocked Kane off balance before contact with Mpasi.
Referee Mohammad did not point to the spot and gestured that Kane had dived, though he did not issue a yellow card. The decision was reviewed by VAR but upheld, prompting disbelief from England fans and manager Thomas Tuchel.
Rooney's Verdict
Speaking on BBC commentary during the half-time break, former England captain Wayne Rooney delivered his verdict. "I'm all for the forwards but I just think he trips himself a little bit and then he jumps into the goalkeeper," Rooney said. "Yes there is contact, but I just think by that little trip and jumping into him with two feet a little bit, I think it's probably the right decision."
Rooney elaborated: "He stubs his toe into the ground and then he jumps into the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has rushed out, he's left himself in a position where the referee could give the penalty, but I just think it looks like he's [Kane] dived into him so I think it's probably not a penalty."
Context of the Match
The non-penalty decision came moments after DR Congo's Yoane Wissa hit the post from close range, missing a chance to double his team's lead. England were seeking an equaliser when Kane went down. The Three Lions ultimately lost the match, exiting the tournament in the round of 32.
The decision has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many questioning whether VAR should have overturned the on-field call. However, Rooney's analysis suggests that Kane's movement contributed to the fall, making the referee's decision understandable.
