Wayne Rooney and former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann engaged in a heated exchange in the BBC studio after Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, disagreeing over whether the Bosnian goalkeeper should have been sent off for a dangerous challenge.
The flashpoint came four minutes into the second half, with Bosnia leading 1-0. Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj leapt to punch a long ball, but on the follow-through his fists crashed into the head of Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi, who collapsed. Referee Facundo Tello gave an offside against Canada and took no further action — no penalty, no red card.
“Rooney and Cann clash over whether Bosnia keeper Vasilj should have been sent off for a dangerous challenge in Canada's 1-1 draw.”
Cann, who served as an assistant referee in the 2014 World Cup final, defended the decision. “First of all, offside was given, but even without the offside in my opinion it is not a penalty. It is not a red card,” he said. “The goalkeeper clearly plays the ball first and there’s inevitable contact after that, so it is not serious foul play. The keeper clearly wins the ball and that for me is clearly not a red card.”
Rooney saw it differently. “It is a red card,” he said. “We have seen it before when players have gone through, and the whistle has gone, and it is a red card. It is a very dangerous play. I know he wins the ball, but the follow-through, he hits him in the temple. That is the worst place to be hit. He could get knocked out. He might come back in a week’s time and have delayed concussion. For me, that is a clear red card.”
The former England captain pressed his case, arguing that the use of hands made it worse. “When you see players win the ball, it is with reasonable force. They follow-through and then they go and get a red card, so it is the same, but with his hands. It is easier to move your hands back than it is with your leg.”
Cann countered firmly: “Not in my opinion at all, Wayne. It’s a goalkeeper winning the ball, and there’s just inevitable contact. There’s no brutality in that challenge.”
Former France forward Olivier Giroud, also in the studio, offered a middle ground. “As a striker, I would have been frustrated to not get a penalty on that one,” he said. “On the other hand, I understand what Darren says. You hit the ball first and it is hard for him to get his hands off the striker’s head.”
The result ensured Canada, as co-hosts, avoided defeat for the first time in seven World Cup matches — but the debate over Vasilj’s challenge is unlikely to fade.