World Cup 2026: Should England have been penalized for Harry Kane’s challenge?

As Can pointed out, pundits in the BBC TV studios were divided over whether the spot-kick should have been awarded without confirming that former England striker Wayne Rooney had fouled Kane.

“I’m all for the forwards, but I think Harry Kane trips himself up a bit and jumps into the goalkeeper a bit,” he said.

“I think it looks like he dived into him, so maybe it’s not a penalty.”

But the former Manchester United man was in the minority.

Former England keeper Joe Hart told BBC One: “If it’s in my water bottle, I’m working on where Kane’s next penalty is going to be.”

“Empasi will be happy when he looks up and the referee doesn’t give it, because I would expect it to be given against me.”

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: “I just think Lionel Messi touched Harry Kane, so I want that as a penalty.”

BBC Radio 5 Live’s pundits believe Kane made the contact but agree it was a foul by Empassey.

“Definite punishment,” added former Lionesses captain Steph Houghton. “I think even though Ken has initiated contact, where else is he supposed to go when the empath comes out so fast?

“I’m very disappointed that VAR didn’t overturn the decision to be honest.”

Former goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who played for England at the 2006 World Cup, said: “If England lose, a question will be asked for a long time because it’s a stonewall penalty.

“Harry Kane starts the contact but the contact is there. He’s very clever, very experienced and he goes with the goalkeeper.”