A former elite referee has stated England striker Harry Kane was denied a clear penalty during the World Cup match against DR Congo. The incident occurred in the 43rd minute when Kane rounded the goalkeeper and appeared to be tripped, but the on-field referee waved away appeals. The VAR also reviewed the play but decided not to intervene, upholding the initial decision.

According to the analysis, the VAR review should have recommended a penalty. The former referee argued the goalkeeper failed to play the ball and instead made contact with Kane. The decision not to award a spot-kick was attributed to the VAR checking the incident in slow motion. This slowed playback potentially introduced doubt about whether Kane was fouled or trying to win a penalty.

This failure to award a penalty, stemming from an improper slow-motion review, cost England a crucial opportunity. The expert believes such situations require real-time assessment to accurately judge challenges, not prolonged, slowed-down replays. The VAR’s adherence to protocol, or lack thereof, directly impacted the game's outcome and England’s chances.