In France's 2026 World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe believed he had earned a penalty after a controversial challenge from Sadio Mane. As Mbappe entered the box, Mane attempted a tackle, leading to Mbappe falling to the ground. Despite French appeals, referee Alireza Faghani initially awarded a corner, only to reverse his decision to a goal-kick after consulting VAR.

The situation escalated when Faghani reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor. French players and staff expected a penalty, but Faghani ruled that "the attacker initiated the contact." This decision shocked many, especially as replays indicated that Mane had not made contact with the ball.

Pundits expressed their disbelief:

• Pat Nevin on BBC Sport described the decision as "utter nonsense" and questioned how Mbappe could have initiated contact.
• Alan Shearer pointed out the clear lunge from Mane, emphasizing the bizarre nature of the ruling.
• Darren Cann, an assistant referee from the 2010 World Cup final, stated it was a clear penalty and noted that many referees shared his confusion about the decision.

Despite the setback, France quickly responded. Minutes later, Mbappe scored a goal after receiving a well-placed throughball from Michael Olise, giving France the lead. Bradley Barcola later added a second goal, securing a 2-0 victory for the French team.