Kane foul splits England pundits as Mexico penalty pulls game back to 3-2

Harry Kane’s challenge inside the penalty area became the flashpoint of England’s World Cup round-of-16 clash with Mexico, with BBC pundits split on whether referee Jarred Gillett was right to award a spot kick that allowed Raul Jimenez to pull the score back to 3-2.

England had been reduced to ten men earlier in a breathless contest when Jarell Quansah was dismissed following a VAR review for a high sliding challenge on Jesus Gallardo. Despite the disadvantage, England extended their lead when Kane converted from the spot after goalkeeper Raul Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon inside the box — only for the penalty controversy to follow shortly after.

Alan Shearer was unconvinced that Kane’s contact on the Mexican player warranted a spot kick. “Is that a clear and obvious error made by the referee?” Shearer said after watching the replay, noting that the same official had previously upheld a decision not to award Kylian Mbappe a penalty in the France vs Senegal match.

BBC referee analyst Darren Cann disagreed, drawing a direct comparison to the penalty England themselves had won earlier in the tournament. “Harry Kane, unfortunately, does kick the Mexican’s foot,” Cann said. “It’s a little bit similar to the Modric kick that England won a penalty for in the first group game, where Harry Kane is unaware of the player coming in. Unfortunately, he does make contact. It is a foul. It’s in the penalty box, it’s a penalty.”

Cann also pointed out that Gillett had been the only referee at this World Cup to review a decision on the pitchside monitor and then stick with his original call — in the France-Senegal game — but argued the Kane ruling was correct regardless. “On this occasion it’s the correct decision. Penalty kick.”

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart backed both Cann and the referee, saying he believed all three major decisions in the game had been handled correctly. “As soon as I saw the replay, my heart was in my mouth,” Hart said. “I thought Quansah deserved to go, I thought Kane didn’t get anything on the ball, and I thought Gordon got there first.”