صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
The penalty kick awarded in the final moments of the confrontation between Senegal and Belgium, today, Thursday, sparked a wide wave of controversy, after it contributed to the exit of the Senegalese team from the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, despite leading by two unanswered goals before losing the match with a score of (3-2) after an exciting Belgian remontada.
The decisive shot came at the end of the second extra half, when Honduran referee Said Martinez returned to the video technology (VAR), before awarding a penalty kick following contact between Lamine Kamara and Youri Tielemans, at a time when the match was heading towards penalty kicks after a draw (2-2).
🔚 End of the match
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS)July 1, 2026
Result of the match between Belgium and Senegal#WorldCup2026|#World Cup 2026|#WorldCup#FIFAWorldCup2026|#FIFAWorldCup|#beINWC26 pic.twitter.com/ddUfu52MCP
This snapshot sparked widespread objections, as it was considered aplatform “Archivo VAR”The specialist in analyzing arbitration cases confirmed that the intervention of video technology was not justified, confirming that Tielemans was the one who initiated his foot in front of Kamara, and that the contact did not rise to the level of a “clear and clear error” that requires a review of the referee.
Youri Tielemans gives Belgium the third goal from the penalty spot! Honduran international referee Saeed Martinez awarded the penalty kick after using video technology#WorldCup2026|#World Cup 2026|#WorldCup#FIFAWorldCup2026|#FIFAWorldCup|#beINWC26 pic.twitter.com/AJip7JCeir
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS)July 1, 2026
The controversy quickly moved to social media platforms, where a large number of followers considered that Senegal had been subjected to arbitration injustice, and one of them wrote:“This is 100% theft, Belgium does not deserve to qualify like this”.
He also directed the sports content creatorSnekoAccusations were made to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), considering that the result of the match had been “rigged,” while others believed that Kamara was trying to play the ball, and that Tielemans was the one who caused the contact.
The discussion extended to the sports media, as the Spanish journalistManolo LamaHe expressed his solidarity with the Senegalese team, considering that the team was subjected to new injustice, while Egyptian journalist Mohamed Saeed recalled the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, noting that the shot brought to mind the arbitration controversy that accompanied that match.
🖥️💥 Exceso of VAR protagonism in Belgium – Senegal.
— Archivo VAR (@ArchivoVAR)July 1, 2026
👉🏻 They come with the help of camera access, producing a contact.
❌ 𝗡𝗢 𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗥.
▪️ The belt is completely connected to the phone, but it can see a clear error and detect it.pic.twitter.com/RulbOU9biT
On the other hand, a number of commentators linked Senegal’s protests in the African Cup final to what happened in the 2026 World Cup, considering that the team this time was unable to escalate due to the stringency of FIFA laws and the penalties that may result from any withdrawal in a tournament the size of the World Cup.
When there was a clear penalty kick in the Moroccan final, he rebelled against the decision and ruined the reputation of African football only because the tournament was in Morocco
– hodannat (@hodannat55)July 1, 2026
When there was an unclear penalty kick that excluded him from the World Cup, he swallowed it and remained silent because he was in the West.
Meaning….. Do not buy a slave unless he has a stick with him.pic.twitter.com/UXgjondLvh
In the end, Youri Tielemans succeeded in converting the penalty kick into a third goal, giving Belgium a ticket to the round of 16, while the “Lions of Teranga” left the tournament amid widespread anger and great doubt about the validity of the arbitration decision that decided one of the most controversial matches of the World Cup.
Source:“My press”
