England-Ghana Draw Sparks Debate Over VAR Decisions

Controversial officiating decisions during England’s goalless draw against Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have triggered widespread reactions from fans, football pundits and social media users, with many questioning the consistency of VAR interventions during the tournament.

The debate intensified after several observers claimed Ghana were denied a penalty in the second half when Prince Adu went down inside the box following a challenge from England defender Ezri Konsa as he raced through on goal.

According to a post by Pulse Sports on its official X page, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey believed Ghana should have been awarded a spot-kick.

“I thought England were extremely lucky not to concede a penalty in that second half,” Halsey said.

“You can see again, Prince’s gone racing through, the ball’s played through to him, he’s gone one-on-one with Jordan Pickford. Then we see Konsa running back, putting in a challenge, but he doesn’t make no contact with the ball whatsoever,” he added.

Former FIFA referee Christina Unkel also questioned the decision, stating during a CBS podcast appearance: “I would rather have seen a penalty here.”

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Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz echoed similar sentiments after the match, suggesting the video review officials failed to properly assess the incident. “VAR went for a coffee,” the veteran coach remarked during his post-match press conference.

The controversy extended beyond the penalty appeal. Football commentator Micky Jnr drew comparisons between disciplinary decisions involving Miguel Almirón and Jude Bellingham.

“Miguel Almirón covered his mouth and was shown a red card, plus an additional one-match suspension. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham covered his mouth against Ghana but walked away without a red. Same action, different outcomes… interesting debate on consistency in decision-making at this World Cup,” he wrote on X.

The match ended 0-0, leaving both England and Ghana in strong positions to qualify for the Round of 32, but the officiating decisions have continued to dominate discussions in the aftermath of the Group L encounter.