England should have been awarded a penalty in the closing stages of the first half of their World Cup knockout match against DR Congo, according to Alan Shearer. The Three Lions were trailing 1-0 after Brian Cipenga's seventh-minute opener when a controversial incident occurred.
Incident Overview
DR Congo had a chance to make it 2-0, with Yohan Wissa hitting the post. In the following seconds, England broke forward, and Harry Kane got in on goal. He appeared to be taken out by goalkeeper Lionel Mpase, but the referee waved away England's penalty shouts. A VAR check upheld the on-field decision, allowing play to continue.
Shearer's Verdict
Speaking on BBC Sport, Alan Shearer stated that the decision should have been overturned. "There's contact, there's no doubt. That for me is a penalty," Shearer said. "Harry might make the most of it but the keeper has come out and his hands are there. If he's going to come rushing out like that and leave his arms there, as a forward you've got every right to make connection with those hands and go down."
Shearer added, "I thought that was a penalty. Mpasi's made his mind up, you can't go back, he has to connect and has to go down and dive. All the forward has to do is get that first touch and he's got it Harry Kane. Then you've got every right to go into the goalkeeper if he's daft enough to come rushing out like that. That for me should have been a penalty. I do think DR Congo have got away with one."
Match Context
England were looking to equalise after conceding early. The penalty decision could have changed the course of the match, but the referee and VAR decided against awarding the spot-kick. The incident has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many agreeing with Shearer's assessment.
