Pundits expressed differing opinions on whether England should have been awarded a penalty during their World Cup last-32 tie against DR Congo, following a challenge on Harry Kane.
In the BBC TV studio, former England striker Wayne Rooney suggested that Kane may have initiated contact and even dived into the goalkeeper. "I'm all for the forwards, but I think Harry Kane trips himself a bit and jumps into the goalkeeper a little bit," Rooney stated. "I think it looks like he has dived into him, so it probably isn't a penalty."
However, Rooney was in the minority among the analyzed commentators. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart indicated that he would have expected such a challenge to be penalized. "If it's on my water bottle, I am working out where Kane's next penalty is going to be," Hart said. "Mpasi will be delighted to when he looks up and sees the referee not giving it, because I would expect that to be given against me."
Micah Richards, a former Manchester City defender, also felt a penalty should have been awarded. "I just think Lionel Mpasi touches Harry Kane, so I want that as a penalty," Richards commented.
On BBC Radio 5 Live, pundits agreed that while Kane initiated some contact, the foul was committed by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Former Lionesses captain Steph Houghton described it as a "definite penalty" and expressed surprise that VAR did not intervene. "I think even though Kane has initiated the contact, where else is he supposed to go when Mpasi comes out that quick? I'm so shocked the VAR didn't overturn the decision to be honest."
Ex-goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who played for England at the 2006 World Cup, called it a "stonewall penalty." He added, "Harry Kane initiates the contact but the contact is there. He's very clever, very experienced and he goes into the goalkeeper."