England were left furious after Harry Kane was denied a penalty in the first half of their last-32 clash with DR Congo at the World Cup.
With England trailing 1-0, the Three Lions captain was played through by Jude Bellingham and appeared to be taken out by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
But referee Adham Makhadmeh waved away the penalty claims, gesturing to say Kane had dived. VAR officials also checked the incident but agreed with the original decision.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel was seen remonstrating with the fourth official on the touchline as Kane and his team-mates complained to Makhadmeh.
Former England striker Alan Shearer was convinced England should have been awarded a spot-kick.
‘There is contact, there is no doubt,’ he said on the BBC. ‘For me that is a penalty.
Harry Kane was denied a penalty in the first half of England’s clash with DR Congo
‘Kane may have made the most of it but the keeper has come out and his hands are there. If he is going to come rushing out like that with his hands as a forward you have every right to make connection and go down.’
BBC pundit Wayne Rooney insisted, however, that the decision not to give England a penalty was correct.
England were stunned early on in Atlanta when Brian Cipenga was left free at the back post and fired home past Jordan Pickford.
Tuchel’s men grew into the contest as Marcus Rashford’s effort was cleared off the line by his former Manchester United team-mate Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while Jude Bellingham headed straight at Mpasi from a superb Declan Rice cross.
They were fortunate not to fall two goals behind just before half-time as Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa hit the post from close range.
England assistant head coach Anthony Barry stressed the need for calm as the Three Lions bid to stay in the tournament and avoid an embarrassing early exit.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: ‘We still have 45 to play. Obviously, to concede an early goal to a team that plays this style of football is never a good thing.
‘It can normally carry you into a state of shock. It is something that has released us guys. We have taken the handbrake off. We have created many, many , many chances. The goalkeeper is man of the match so far. It is not a time to panic.”
Fans across the country left work early and headed to the pub to watch the round-of-32 knockout clash, which kicked off at 5pm GMT.
The winner will face a tough test in the last 16 against Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City.
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