--- title: "World Cup VAR review: Did Belgium deserve penalty against Morocco?" description: "A deep dive into the Video Assistant Referee’s call that denied Belgium a penalty in a high-stakes World Cup match, and what it reveals about modern officiating." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/world-cup-var-review-did-belgium-deserve-penalty-a4b881cd published: 2026-07-03T03:25:40.974+00:00 updated: 2026-07-03T03:25:40.974+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["soccer"] --- # World Cup VAR review: Did Belgium deserve penalty against Morocco? > A deep dive into the Video Assistant Referee’s call that denied Belgium a penalty in a high-stakes World Cup match, and what it reveals about modern officiating. Belgium’s World Cup campaign hit a controversial wall when VAR denied them a clear penalty against Morocco in a 2-0 defeat on December 2, 2022. The incident occurred in the 90th minute when Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi appeared to handle the ball inside his own penalty area after a cross from Belgium’s Jeremy Doku. Multiple replays suggested a clear handball, yet the on-field referee and VAR did not award the spot kick. The decision sparked global debate over VAR’s interpretation of handball laws and the protocol governing penalty reviews. The Laws of the Game define a handball as deliberate contact with the ball by a player’s hand or arm. VAR’s role is to identify clear and obvious errors, not to re-referee the entire incident. In this case, the assistant referee recommended a review based on potential handball, but the VAR operator concluded that the ball’s trajectory and Hakimi’s body position did not meet the threshold for a penalty. The protocol requires the referee to accept or reject the VAR’s advice; here, the referee opted against the call. The incident’s stakes were high. Belgium, chasing a knockout berth, needed a win or draw to advance. The 2-0 loss eliminated them, while Morocco progressed. Post-match, FIFA released the match footage and VAR audio, showing the referee’s hesitation during the review. Pundits and fans dissected the freeze-frame, arguing that Hakimi’s arm was in an unnatural position, which FIFA’s own handball guidelines state can imply intent. The debate centered on whether VAR prioritized technicalities over the spirit of the law. FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, defended the decision, stating that VAR’s role is to correct clear mistakes, not to second-guess every marginal call. ‘We must respect the Laws of the Game,’ Collina said. ‘If the evidence doesn’t show a clear error, we cannot intervene.’ The statement underscored the tension between technological precision and the human element in officiating. What’s next: FIFA will continue refining VAR protocols ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with a focus on consistency in handball interpretations. The Morocco-Belgium incident will likely fuel further testing of semi-automated offside technology and potential rule tweaks to clarify handball intent. ## Why this matters VAR was supposed to bring clarity to soccer’s most contentious moments, but it has instead exposed the sport’s struggle to balance technology with human judgment. The Belgium-Morocco penalty debate highlights how marginal calls—interpreted differently by officials, fans, and algorithms—can alter tournaments. It forces the game to confront a critical question: Can VAR ever be truly objective, or does it merely shift the locus of controversy from the pitch to the video room? ## Frequently asked ### What is VAR and how does it work in the World Cup? The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system uses multiple camera angles and a dedicated team to review clear and obvious errors in four match-changing situations: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. The referee on the pitch makes the final decision after consulting the VAR. ### Why wasn’t the Belgium penalty given despite the ball hitting Hakimi’s hand? VAR did not deem the handball ‘clear and obvious’ under FIFA’s Laws of the Game. The protocol requires intent or unnatural arm positioning for a penalty; the VAR operator ruled Hakimi’s position did not meet this threshold. ### Did FIFA release any official explanation for the decision? Yes. FIFA released match footage and VAR audio, showing the referee’s hesitation. Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s refereeing chief, later stated that VAR’s role is to correct clear mistakes, not to re-referee marginal incidents. ### How has VAR changed penalty decisions in World Cups? Since VAR’s introduction in 2018, penalty awards have increased significantly. In Russia 2018, there were 29 penalties; in Qatar 2022, there were 27. However, controversy persists over inconsistent interpretations of handball and encroachment. ### Will FIFA change the handball laws after this incident? FIFA has not announced specific changes, but the Morocco-Belgium case will likely inform future discussions. Semi-automated offside technology is being expanded, and handball interpretations may be refined for 2026. ## Sources & Citations - [World Cup VAR review: Did Belgium deserve penalty ...](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49027532/world-cup-2026-var-review-red-card-penalty-handball-goal-line-technology) — ESPN Soccer (2026-07-02) --- Cite: World Cup VAR review: Did Belgium deserve penalty against Morocco?. Sportopod, 2026-07-03. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/world-cup-var-review-did-belgium-deserve-penalty-a4b881cd