Andy Davies analyzes Belgium's penalty and Balogun's red card
A former Premier League referee explains why VAR decided this way in key matches.
Andy Davies, former Premier League referee, breaks down the most controversial VAR decisions at the 2026 World Cup, confirming that the penalty in favor of Belgium was technically correct but harsh, while the red card for Folarin Balogun was an unfortunate accident. Stop yelling at the screen: here's the harsh reality of why refereeing is ruining (or saving) games. In the clash between Belgium and Senegal, the referee awarded a late penalty following a VAR review involving Youri Tielemans.
Davies maintains that, although the contact existed and the regulations support the decision, the severity of the punishment did not fit the natural flow of the game. On the other hand, in the United States match, striker Folarin Balogun saw a straight red card in a confusing play. The analysis indicates that there was no intention of rough play or a serious foul, but rather a chance collision that the current protocol punishes with excessive rigidity.
