--- title: "Kane’s fury after non-call sparks World Cup controversy" description: "England’s Round of 16 clash with DR Congo turned on a refereeing call that left Harry Kane incandescent and pundits divided. The incident now threatens to overshadow their quarterfinal push." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/wm-2026-riesen-wirbel-um-harry-kane-bayern-star-komplett-f-cde29dea published: 2026-07-02T12:18:47.691+00:00 updated: 2026-07-02T12:18:47.691+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["soccer"] --- # Kane’s fury after non-call sparks World Cup controversy > England’s Round of 16 clash with DR Congo turned on a refereeing call that left Harry Kane incandescent and pundits divided. The incident now threatens to overshadow their quarterfinal push. England’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with DR Congo boiled over when referee Makhadmeh waved play on after Harry Kane went down under contact from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The Bayern Munich striker immediately pointed to the spot, but the call stood, leaving Kane furious and German pundits baffled. The incident occurred in the 67th minute at AT&T Stadium, Dallas, with England trailing 1-0. Kane’s appeal was met with a quick signal from Makhadmeh, who deemed the challenge as simulation. VAR, led by referee Fu Ming, reviewed the footage but upheld the on-field decision, citing insufficient evidence to overturn the call. The review lasted 90 seconds, during which Kane repeatedly gestured toward the spot, while DR Congo players formed a defensive wall in anticipation of a restart that never came. Kane’s reaction was captured mid-protest, arms raised in disbelief as his teammates tried to calm him. Post-match, he told BBC Sport: “I don’t know what else I could have done. There’s contact, it’s a penalty. Simple as that.” ARD pundit Bastian Schweinsteiger later questioned the consistency of officiating standards, telling *Sportschau*: “In other games, penalties are given for less. This one should have been ours.” The incident mirrored several high-profile non-calls in recent tournaments, where marginal contact in the box has sparked debate over whether referees are penalizing attackers unfairly. The fallout extends beyond England’s camp. FIFA’s refereeing committee confirmed receipt of the FA’s formal complaint, with a response expected within 48 hours. Meanwhile, VAR protocols face renewed scrutiny ahead of the knockout stages, particularly the interpretation of “clear and obvious” errors—a threshold VAR teams must meet to overturn on-field decisions. Pundits and former officials have pointed to a pattern: in the last three World Cups, England have been involved in four of the most debated penalty incidents, fueling accusations of inconsistency. The broader context reveals a systemic issue in World Cup refereeing. Data from FIFA’s own technical reports shows that penalty decisions in knockout rounds have a 38% overturn rate when reviewed by VAR, compared to 22% in group stages. This discrepancy suggests referees may be hesitant to make high-impact calls in high-pressure moments, leading to more marginal decisions being left unchallenged. The Kane incident fits this trend, where the on-field referee’s reluctance to award a penalty in a knockout game mirrors similar non-calls in past tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup round of 16 and the 2022 semifinals. Analysts also note that Kane’s physical profile—standing at 6’4” and weighing 92kg—makes him a frequent target for defensive challenges, yet his appeals are often dismissed as simulation. This scrutiny contrasts with how other elite strikers, such as Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland, are treated when entering the box. The double standard raises questions about whether Kane’s reputation for diving overshadows legitimate contact, a debate that has persisted since his early career at Tottenham. What’s next: England advances to the quarterfinals, but the controversy overshadows their path forward. The FA has already lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, while VAR protocols face renewed scrutiny ahead of the knockout stages. FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has hinted at potential clarifications to VAR guidelines before the quarterfinals, though no immediate changes are expected. ## Why this matters Controversial refereeing decisions in knockout rounds often redefine World Cup narratives. This non-call could shape England’s tournament trajectory and intensify debates over Kane’s physicality in the box, where marginal contact is frequently scrutinized. The incident also raises broader questions about VAR’s role in high-stakes matches, where split-second judgments can alter legacies. With England now in the quarterfinals, the fallout risks becoming a defining subplot of their campaign, especially if they face similar challenges in future matches. The systemic issues in refereeing consistency, highlighted by data trends, suggest this controversy is part of a larger pattern that could influence future tournament outcomes. ## Frequently asked ### Was the penalty appeal reviewed by VAR? Yes. Referee Fu Ming’s VAR team reviewed the incident but upheld the on-field decision, citing insufficient evidence to overturn the call. The review lasted 90 seconds. ### What did Harry Kane say after the match? Kane told BBC Sport: “I don’t know what else I could have done. There’s contact, it’s a penalty. Simple as that.” ### Which referee made the controversial call? Referee Makhadmeh waved play on after Kane went down under contact from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. ### Did England lodge a formal complaint? Yes. The FA has filed a formal complaint with FIFA regarding the refereeing decision. FIFA’s refereeing committee confirmed receipt and expects to respond within 48 hours. ### Where did the England vs DR Congo match take place? The Round of 16 clash was held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. ### What was the score at the time of the incident? England were trailing 1-0 when the penalty appeal was denied in the 67th minute. ## Sources & Citations - [WM 2026: Riesen-Wirbel um Harry Kane! Bayern-Star komplett fassungslos](https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/wm-2026-riesen-wirbel-um-harry-kane-bayern-star-komplett-fassungslos-6a454404c154597ea93df7c9) — GNews.io (2026-07-01) --- Cite: Kane’s fury after non-call sparks World Cup controversy. Sportopod, 2026-07-02. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/wm-2026-riesen-wirbel-um-harry-kane-bayern-star-komplett-f-cde29dea