France’s World Cup opening victory over Senegal was overshadowed by a controversial refereeing decision that left players, pundits and former officials struggling to understand how Kylian Mbappe was denied a penalty despite a VAR review.
The incident occurred shortly before the hour mark of France’s Group I clash in New Jersey. Mbappe burst into the penalty area and appeared to be brought down by Senegal captain Sadio Mane as he attempted to reach the ball. Referee Alireza Faghani initially awarded a corner kick, prompting immediate protests from the French players.
VAR officials advised Faghani to review the challenge on the pitchside monitor, leading many observers to expect the decision would be overturned. However, after studying the footage, the referee maintained his original call and declined to award a penalty.
The decision quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Former England striker Alan Shearer described the call as difficult to comprehend, while fellow BBC analyst Pat Nevin also questioned how the challenge was not punished. Former assistant referee Darren Cann revealed that several experienced officials had contacted him expressing disbelief at the outcome.
Many observers were particularly puzzled because the referee was sent to the monitor by VAR, a step usually reserved for incidents where officials believe a clear review is required. The fact that the on-field decision remained unchanged only increased the confusion surrounding the incident.
Fortunately for France, the controversial moment did not affect the result. Mbappe responded by scoring twice as France secured a 3-1 win over Senegal. His brace saw him surpass the previous national scoring record and become France’s all-time leading goalscorer. Bradley Barcola added France’s other goal, while Ibrahim Mbaye scored for Senegal.
Despite the victory, debate over the decision continued long after the final whistle, with many commentators describing it as one of the most surprising VAR outcomes seen at a major international tournament.