Harry Kane and the England camp were left fuming after the striker’s penalty appeal was dismissed in the dying moments of the first half during their clash with DR Congo. The referee waved away protests from the English players, judging that Kane had gone down too easily, a decision that immediately ignited debate among pundits including Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney. While some experts branded it a blatant foul, others commended the referee for standing firm against what they viewed as simulation.

The controversial incident unfolded just before the interval, with England trailing 1-0 to DR Congo. Moments after Yoane Wissa struck the post, England counter-attacked swiftly. Kane appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area following contact with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Despite loud appeals from the England players and boos echoing from the travelling fans, the referee refused to award a penalty, signalling instead that Kane had taken a dive.

VAR conducted a review but ultimately upheld the on-field decision, opting not to overturn the call. Interestingly, no yellow card was shown to Kane for simulation, a move that left players and supporters visibly frustrated as they headed into the break.

Former England internationals were quick to criticise the decision. Speaking on BBC One, Alan Shearer was adamant that contact had been made and that the referee should have pointed to the spot.

“There is definite contact, no doubt about it. For me, that’s a penalty. Kane might have made the most of it, but the keeper came charging out with his hands extended. When a striker sees that, he’s entitled to expect contact and go down,” Shearer argued.

Paul Robinson shared Shearer’s view on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying: “Wow. They’ve called that completely wrong. That’s not just me being patriotic—it’s a penalty. The contact is clear.”

Wayne Rooney, the former England and Manchester United captain, however, offered a different perspective. He commented: “I’m all for forwards getting protection, but I think Harry Kane loses his footing a bit and goes into the goalkeeper. It looks like he’s initiated the contact himself, so I don’t think it’s a penalty.”

The incident split fans down the middle. On social media, many supporters insisted England had been unfairly denied. One user wrote: “That’s a penalty every single time. Kane and England have been robbed. How on earth is that not given?”

Another frustrated fan posted: “Everyone watching—the commentators, the former refs, the crowd—knows that’s a penalty on Kane. It’s unbelievable, but sadly not surprising anymore with VAR.”

Others, however, praised the referee’s judgement. One fan remarked: “Brilliant decision by the referee. Kane went down far too easily—definite dive at the end of the box.”

Looking ahead, England must regroup quickly as they attempt to overturn the 1-0 deficit in the second half. They’ll need to channel their frustration into focused aggression and maintain the attacking energy they showed before the break. With Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke posing threats in the final third, head coach Thomas Tuchel will hope his side can find a breakthrough against a determined DR Congo outfit.