BBC referee analyst says Ghana should have been awarded penalty against England

BBC’s referee analyst Darren Cann says Ghana should have been awarded a penalty in their World Cup clash against England.

The incident occurred in the second half when substitute Prince Kwabena Adu was appeared to have been brought down in the box by Ezri Konsa.

The move led in a scramble in the box and resulted in the offside flag going up, but there was no sign of a VAR check taking place to review the incident and play resumed shortly after with an England free-kick.

Cann, speaking after the game, said the challenge should have been referred to VAR to award a spot-kick. “Konsa makes no contact at all with the ball. He brings down his opponent. He's airborne, he's out of control, he makes contact with the attacker and no contact with the ball. For me, this is a penalty kick.”

Cann added that referees have often stuck with the on-field decision during this tournament so far, unless that decision is “clearly, clearly wrong”. “We've had seven penalties in this World Cup so far. I'm very glad that wasn't an eighth,” he said.