England crashed out of the World Cup in a narrow 2-1 defeat to reigning champions France, as Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud scored to send the Three Lions home.
Harry Kane scored once from the spot and also missed another penalty late in the game that would have tied the scores, and there was a sense that England were unlucky to lose given how well they played.
Many fans and pundits also think that England were unlucky not to have been given two more penalties on top of the two they were given — Kane converted an earlier penalty after Bukayo Saka was fouled by Aurelian Tchouameni.
Are these calls for criticism towards the refereeing accurate? Or is it just English fans and media clutching at straws after a devastating loss?
MORE: England vs France match report
England penalty appeals denied
England felt that the referee and VAR failed to give England penalties for two seperate foul incidents, with one in each half.
Harry Kane penalty shout
The first penalty shout for England came after 25 minutes when the scores were still locked at 0-0, when Harry Kane picked up the ball on the right touchline and made a dart towards the box. He appeared to then be fouled by France defender Dayot Upamecano right on the edge of the box.
The referee initially waved play on, before letting VAR look at the incident when the ball went out of play. VAR decided there was no penalty, most likely due to the contact seeming to occur outside the box, and in that situation VAR is unable to bring play back for a free-kick.
Many still criticised the referee for not awarding a free-kick in the first place for what was a very clear foul, despite it most likely not happening in the box.
*Watch in US:
No penalty is given for this challenge on Harry Kane pic.twitter.com/StcpuIXkLv
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 10, 2022
The referee looking at the blatant foul on Harry Kane pic.twitter.com/wmCZxlFTjF
— Midnite Football (@MidniteFtbl) December 10, 2022
Jude Bellingham penalty shout
The second major penalty shout happened in the 74th minute, when Jude Bellingham felt he was fouled by Upamecano, the guilty party in the first half.
As the midfielder received and shielded the ball from a throw in, Upamecano reached his leg across and appeared to potentially put his arms into the back of Bellingham, causing the midifelder to fall to the ground.
The referee did not think it was a foul and waved play on, whilst VAR didn't ask for a delay of game to review the footage further, shocking the young midfielder who reacted strongly to the decision.
This was a significant turning point, as just four minutes later, Giroud would score the second goal for Les Bleus, and the goal that would ultimately eliminate England.
What did the media say?
A large section of the English football media were highly critical of the performance by the referee, with specific mention made towards a series of fouls on Bukayo Saka that went unpunished (including one before France's opening goal), as well as the aforementioned penalty shouts.
Gary Neville and Roy Keane on the ITV coverage of the game slammed the referee for not awarding a foul for Kane after the Upamecano challenge, with Neville stating "It's a simple decision. He kicks his leg away - I'm not sure why that isn't a foul. He's nibbled and he's kicked him. It should be a free-kick. Upamecano has tried to win the ball three or four occasions where can't win the ball, on Saka, on Kane."
The pundit also expressed his displeasure on Twitter.
Ref is a joke!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 10, 2022
He was not the only one, as many pundits and fans criticised the refereeing performance, and even Specsavers got in on the act!
One hundred percent foul on Saka. One hundred percent penalty on Kane.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 10, 2022
As shocking a one-sided refereeing display as I can remember. Someone tell me how that’s not a pen on Kane in the 1st half? He got goal side and foul carried onto the line of the penalty area. No red card for the Mount foul also. Absolutely atrocious. #ENGFRA
— Daniel Mays 🇺🇦💙 (@DanielMays9) December 10, 2022
We need to sponsor VAR don’t we
— Specsavers (@Specsavers) December 10, 2022
Who was England vs. France referee?
The referee for this match was Brazilian Wilton Sampaio. The 40-year-old is a referee in the Brazilian Serie A and also officiates for CONMEBOL international matches.
He officiated two games previously at the World Cup, handing out 10 cards overall, as well as giving a penalty to Poland on their group stage victory over Saudi Arabia.
He was previously at the 2018 World Cup, though he was a VAR official and never refereed a game on the pitch in that tournament.
MORE: Should Harry Kane have taken second penalty vs France?
England eliminated on Harry Kane penalty miss
Amazingly, there was still more penalty drama, as just minutes after Giroud's goal, France fullback Theo Hernandez shoved Mason Mount to the ground, which VAR told the referee to award a penalty.
Kane, having already emphatically converted an earlier spot kick, then shocked the world by blazing this one high over the bar.
It was a crucial moment, as despite England's best efforts as the game wound down, they would not come closer to scoring a goal that would have tied the match and sent it to extra-time.
It was cruel on Kane, who has been a brilliant leader as captain for England and has also had a strong tournament, but that penalty miss will now be weighing on his and all of England's minds at they trudge home from the Middle East.
