Harry Kane could barely believe what he was seeing when he turned to see a yellow card being brandished at him for diving during England's meeting with Malta.
The Three Lions skipper has enjoyed a season where just about everything has gone his way, but Kane had no such joy out of referee Luis Godinho on Friday evening. After picking up on a sloppy passage of play from the Malta defence, it looked as if the Bayern Munich talisman was clearly brought down while trying to round goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
It is a move England fans have seen so many times, Kane gets the better of an onrushing 'keeper, clipped and then steps up to convert the resulting spot-kick. Some have been more dubious than others, but this one was a nailed-on stonewaller.
If Godhino getting it wrong was bad, the fact that those watching multiple replays from the VAR room chose not to intervene is even worse. Make no mistake, the incident will not be one that will cost Gareth Southgate's side.
England are already qualified and were 1-0 up at the time of the incident. But it is yet another example of VAR being involved in the kind of controversy it was implemented to avoid. It was easy to see that Kane had been fouled in real time, easier with one replay and a certainty after more than a second glance.
Well, easy to everyone but those in charge. It was not the only questionable call of the half, with Marc Guehi deemed to have been guilty of a foul despite clearly being the one held inside the Malta penalty area, but it wasn't quite as glaring an error as the Kane call.
Fans on social media were quick to voice their feelings on the matter, with one writing: "The ref’s embarrassed himself big time. That was a penalty not a yellow card for Harry Kane for diving...", another added: "That Harry Kane booking might be one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. How’s it not been given by VAR?"
Their sentiments were echoed by an equally irate England fan, who wrote: "Harry Kane should have had a penalty. That is a farcical decision. Where is VAR?"
VAR, yet again, was found wanting in the face of what looked like an undeniable penalty.
SURFASASFUC
0
Kane is such an accomplished DIVER that VAR was just trying to balance it all out!
vehbcdor
0
let them be furious, let them boil and explode if they must
Singapore1183229
0
Kane did not dive. He put his leg purposely into the opponent’s leg and went down. Not a yellow card. Referee should have continued the game.
Yuoelnory
0
He kicked the goalie with his left foot. Watch it again.
keaaknrtuz
3
harry kane is good actor
Pamdeoruz
1
Personally, I agree with the ref and do believe it was a dive. Kane instigated the contact with his left foot realising he was not going to get to the ball after skipping past the keeper. Sadly, it is part of a game that Kane has introduced in his game play over the last few years which I really hate and don’t agree with.He is such a great player and really does not need to do the diving imho as it tarnishes his image.
Waycdilnpu
0
It begs the question: why are so many of those manning VAR so incompetent?