During a World Cup 2026 match, referee Alireza Faghani used VAR to deny Kylian Mbappé a penalty, a call that surprised many top referees. Analysts like Darren Cann and Pat Nevin described the decision as controversial and 'nonsense.'

The ruling sparked debate about the consistency and interpretation of VAR in high-stakes games. Fans and experts are divided on whether the decision upheld the rules or unfairly impacted the match outcome.

The core issue is whether the VAR decision was the right call given the balance between strict rule enforcement and game flow.