Shearer disputes VAR penalty call as Jimenez scores to put Mexico ahead against England

Raul Jimenez converted a second-half penalty to put Mexico ahead against England at Mexico City Stadium, after referee Alireza Faghani overturned his original decision following a pitchside VAR review of Harry Kane’s challenge on Brian Gutierrez.

Faghani had initially waved away Mexico’s appeals after Gutierrez went down inside the box under pressure from Kane. The referee was then directed to the monitor and reversed his call, with Jimenez stepping up to convert.

Alan Shearer was unconvinced by the decision. “Kane does clip the player’s foot in there but that is not enough to give a penalty for me,” the former Newcastle United forward said on commentary. “That’s a kick of the foot, that’s not a penalty for me. He does clip his foot but not enough to give a penalty away, goodness me.”

Shearer went further, questioning whether the threshold for VAR intervention had been met. “I didn’t think it was the right decision. I didn’t think it was a clear and obvious error. I didn’t think it was enough to turn it over. He gets the red card absolutely albeit by going to the screen fine but I didn’t agree the penalty going to Mexico.”

Former Premier League match official Darren Cann disagreed, backing the referee’s final call. “It is a penalty. Kane unfortunately does kick the Mexico player’s foot,” Cann said, drawing a comparison to an earlier incident in the tournament. “It is a little bit similar to the Modric kick which England got a penalty for in the first group game. Kane is unaware of the player coming in behind.”

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart also sided with the officials, saying he was satisfied with all three major decisions — both penalties and a red card — once he had seen the replays. “I think the referee has come to the right decision on all three,” Hart said. “I felt every single one, as soon as I saw the replays my heart was in my mouth. Quansah deserved to go, Kane didn’t get the ball and Gordon got to the ball first.”