Printed On 2 Jul 2026
The penalty awarded in opposition to the Senegalese nationwide staff within the last moments of their match in opposition to Belgium on Wednesday brought about widespread controversy after it led to their elimination from the Spherical of 32 on the 2026 World Cup, in a harsh flip of occasions that noticed the “Lions of Teranga” go from main 2-0 to dropping 3-2.
Honduran referee Stated Martinez awarded a penalty kick on the finish of the second interval of additional time, after a VAR assessment, following a problem by Senegal’s Lamine Camara on Belgian captain Youri Tielemans, with the rating tied 2-2 and the match heading in the direction of a penalty shootout.
The “Archivo VAR” platform, which specialises in analysing refereeing selections, mentioned that VAR intervened excessively through the match, confirming that it was Tielemans who prolonged his foot in entrance of Camara, inflicting the contact.
The platform added, through its account on “X,” that the incident didn’t warrant VAR intervention, explaining that it was the Belgian participant who compelled the contact solely, and that the state of affairs didn’t quantity to the clear and apparent error wanted to justify the referee reviewing the choice.
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The choice triggered a wave of controversy on social media, with one fan writing: “That is 100% theft. Senegal have been robbed. How is that this a penalty? Belgium don’t need to undergo corruption.”
Sports activities content material creator Sneako blamed the end result on match ‘”rigging”.
“Rigged! Senegal ought to storm the pitch proper now. Go away the pitch and go residence. That is rigged!”
One other sports activities fan wrote: “I’m sorry, however this was by no means a penalty. Camara went to clear the ball, however it was Tielemans who acquired in his manner. Senegal was robbed, and it ought to have been Belgium going out.”
Spanish sports activities journalist Manolo Lama commented: “They stole the Africa Cup of Nations from them, and now they’re stealing all of the solidarity with Senegal on the World Cup too.”
Egyptian journalist Mohamed Saeed linked the incident to what occurred within the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations last in opposition to Morocco, writing: “You’ll be able to really feel that the penalty awarded in opposition to Senegal within the last seconds was a harsh lesson and a troublesome check. After the scenes from the Africa Cup of Nations last, I feel that if it weren’t for the change within the guidelines across the withdrawal incident, this scene may have repeated itself.”
One other sports activities fan, Fares Ahmed, wrote that soccer ”teaches classes” and the end result introduced again the reminiscence of Senegal on the event in Morocco.
“They took benefit of the event’s weak place and the host’s have to make it a hit, and used that to impose their strain,” Ahmed wrote. “As we speak, the scene was virtually repeated in opposition to Belgium — a penalty within the last minutes, objections, and disbelief over the choice — however this time there was no menace of withdrawal, as a result of you may’t danger penalties like that in a event the dimensions of the World Cup.”
Drawing a connection between the 2 occasions, one follower wrote on “X”: “When there was a transparent penalty within the Morocco last, they rebelled in opposition to the choice and tarnished the fame of African soccer, simply because the event was in Morocco. However when an unclear penalty got here alongside that eradicated them from the World Cup, they stayed silent, as a result of this time it was within the West.”
After the dramatic penalty was awarded, Tielemans stepped as much as take it and scored efficiently, netting Belgium’s third aim and capping off an surprising comeback that eradicated the Lions of Teranga.
However again on the pitch, Senegal had the run of play for 85 minutes. The African staff held a two-goal lead, and had all however secured a spot within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup.
Inside 5 minutes, it crumbled and the gamers have been feeling it.
“We have been on the coronary heart of writing the gorgeous pages of the historical past of our soccer on this world,” defender Krepin Diatta mentioned. “And we now have to simply accept that we failed at our mission.”
Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra mentioned. “We had a very good first half, however it wasn’t sufficient. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we’re devastated. It’s very robust. I don’t know what to say. Whenever you’re on the pitch, it’s important to give your all, and that’s not what we did. We’ve solely acquired ourselves accountable.”
