As Harry Kane sprawled on the turf inside the Atlanta stadium, arms outstretched, a penalty seemed certain. England trailed DR Congo by a goal late in the first half of their World Cup last-32 tie, and the captain had been played through, knocked the ball past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, and gone down. There was contact – Kane was adamant it was a spot-kick. But referee Adham Makhadmeh waved play on, gesturing that the striker had dived, without even a yellow card. The video assistant referee checked and upheld the on-field decision. England remained a goal behind.
The controversy split the pundits. Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told BBC One: “From live play it looks a penalty, a small touch on Harry Kane’s ankle from the goalkeeper. For me, I think it’s a penalty.” But Wayne Rooney disagreed: “I think Harry Kane trips himself a bit and jumps into the goalkeeper. I think it looks like he has dived into him, so it probably isn’t a penalty.” Joe Hart, the former England keeper, was clear: “If it’s on my water bottle, I am working out where Kane’s next penalty is going to be. Mpasi will be delighted when he looks up and sees the referee not giving it, because I would expect that to be given against me.” Micah Richards added: “I just think Lionel Mpasi touches Harry Kane, so I want that as a penalty.”
“Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to beat DR Congo 2-1 after a contentious penalty decision went against him.”
The decision left England trailing after Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute strike, and facing the prospect of a shock exit. But Kane, with his side needing a rescue act, struck twice in the final 15 minutes to give England a battling 2-1 victory. The comeback triggered wild celebrations in London, with scenes of joy around the capital.
The result booked a last-16 meeting with Mexico on Monday, 6 July. It also highlighted a curious subplot: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the right-back born in Croydon who once played for England’s under-20 and under-21 sides, could have been on the other side. He earned a senior England call-up in August 2019 but withdrew due to a back injury, and faced fierce competition from Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James. With Congolese parents, he had dual eligibility – and had already played once for DR Congo’s under-20s in 2015, a heavy 8-0 friendly defeat to England’s under-17s. That decision to switch allegiances meant he could have been facing his former nation, a what-if that now lingers.