VAR awards a dubious penalty to Rodri and Kane misses it with a double touch

Spain unveiled its second star this Saturday, two months after winning the World Cup with the historic comeback at Wembley against England. The match turned into a rollercoaster of emotions and left a decisive controversy: the VAR indicated a dubious penalty after Jude Bellingham's fall in the fifty-first minute.

Incident in the box

In the fifty-first minute, Jude Bellingham fell inside the penalty area after a play with Rodri Hernández, a Real Madrid player. According to the referee, Rodri did not touch the Englishman, but the fall triggered VAR intervention.

The referee did not blow any whistle on the field; however, VAR reviewed the incident and ultimately signaled the maximum penalty. The decision opened the door for England to bring the score up to three goals.

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Harry Kane took the penalty from the eleven-meter spot with the chance to make it 3‑1. The shot hit the post and, on the rebound, the striker touched the ball twice, which constitutes a double touch.

Although the ball had not left the field of play, the referee applied the IFAB regulations and awarded an indirect free kick to Spain, following the clarification after the Julián Álvarez controversy in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

“Unfortunately it happens sometimes. I tried to give it power and my left foot gave way. Obviously it ended up hitting the ball twice. This is the life of a striker. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted in the second half and you have to accept it,” Harry Kane said after the match.

The controversy could have cost the side coached by Luis de la Fuente dearly, as its lead was threatened before the referee awarded the indirect free kick.