Should England Have Been Awarded a Penalty?

England's appeals for a penalty were waved away after DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi appeared to bring down Harry Kane.

In a highly anticipated international friendly, England faced DR Congo in a match that quickly became defined by a single controversial moment. In the 30th minute, England captain Harry Kane burst into the penalty area, only to be brought down by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The referee immediately blew his whistle, but instead of pointing to the spot, he waved play on, sparking furious protests from England players and coaching staff. Replays showed that Mpasi did make contact with Kane, who went down under the challenge. England argued that it was a clear penalty, but after a brief consultation with his assistants, the referee stuck with his original decision. The call denied England a golden opportunity to take the lead and left manager Gareth Southgate visibly frustrated on the sidelines. The incident quickly became the talking point of the match, with pundits and fans divided. Many argued that under FIFA rules, a goalkeeper who fails to play the ball and instead takes down an attacker should concede a penalty. Others suggested that Kane may have initiated contact, which could have influenced the referee's judgment. England dominated possession and created several chances throughout the game, but they could not find a way past a resolute DR Congo defense. Kane's penalty appeal was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock. DR Congo, meanwhile, defended heroically, with Mpasi making several key saves to preserve a clean sheet. For England, the 0-0 draw was a frustrating result, but it also highlighted their struggles against a compact, defensive setup. Southgate admitted after the match that he was disappointed with the decision but stressed that his team must look at their own performance and improve their attacking efficiency. The controversy has reignited the debate over the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Although VAR was not in operation for this friendly, many are calling for its introduction in all matches to prevent such contentious decisions. The English FA may consider lodging a formal complaint with FIFA, though the result stands. Overall, while the friendly ended in a stalemate, the penalty incident will be remembered as the defining moment. England must now regroup and focus on upcoming competitive fixtures, while DR Congo can take pride in a disciplined defensive display that earned them a credible draw.

Should England Have Been Awarded a Penalty?

Related Matches