Why Harry Kane wasn't awarded controversial penalty as England fans say ‘fair play to referee’ after seeing replay

Football fans have been left divided over the referee's decision to not award Harry Kane a penalty after a run-in with DR Congo's keeper.

The England captain, 32, took a tumble after trying to bypass Lionel Mpasi, who ran out of the net to clear the ball.

Despite Kane and his teammates immediately protesting as they hoped to be granted a penalty, the referee Adham Makhadmeh decided not to.

After a VAR check by video assistant referee Khamis Al Marri, the decision was confirmed and the game played on without England being awarded a penalty.

It has caused quite the debate among people, as former England player Alan Shearer said he believes Kane should have got one - but others disagreed.

“There is contact, there is no doubt,” Shearer said during the BBC's coverage of the match. “For me, that is a penalty.

“Kane may have made the most of it but the keeper has come out and his hands are there.

"If he is going to come rushing out like that with his hands as a forward you have every right to make connection and go down.”

Frustration for England😡

England were left in disbelief after being denied a penalty from this challenge on Harry Kane by Lionel Mpasi. pic.twitter.com/VdLXwn4Fjl

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2026

Micah Richards also reckoned that Kane should have been granted a penalty, as he said: "[Mpasi] touches it, the goalkeeper definitely does touch it.

"And if I was a striker I would definitely want it. I want that as a penalty."

However, former Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney said he believes Kane's fall was his own fault.

"I'm all for the forwards, but I think Harry Kane trips himself a bit and jumps into the goalkeeper a little bit," he said. "I think it looks like he has dived into him, so it probably isn't a penalty."

So, why did Kane not get any compassion for clashing with Mpasi?

Well, it's because VAR is used to overturn clear and obvious errors that may be made by referees, whereas this time around, it seemed to prove Makhadmeh's instincts were right.

According to the protocol: "The referee’s original decision will not be changed unless the video review clearly shows that the decision was a ‘clear and obvious error’."

Although it may have looked like a penalty in real time, when you see it from another angle, Kane actually appeared to have hit his heels into himself.

Taking to social media, one fan said: "Fair enough to this ref man, no idea how he saw that dive. Looked to me like a stonewall penalty until I saw the replay. Only thing missing was a yellow card for Kane."

Another claimed: "Frustration for EnglandGoing down before contact after kicking the floor. It’s not like Kane, but it’s a dive."