During the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, the England vs Ghana match on June 24, 2026, saw a contentious refereeing decision when a potential penalty for Ghana was not awarded. The incident occurred in the 67th minute when Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams appeared to be fouled in the box by England defender John Stones, but referee Wilton Sampaio waved play on.
Replays showed minimal contact, leading to debate among analysts. Former referee Howard Webb stated, 'It was a soft challenge, but not enough for a penalty under current guidelines.' Ghana coach Otto Addo expressed frustration, saying, 'We deserved a penalty, and it's disappointing not to get it.'
This decision has fueled accusations of bias, though no evidence of deliberate favoritism has emerged. The match ended 2-1 in favor of England, with goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka for England, and a late consolation from Mohammed Kudus for Ghana.
FIFA has not commented on the incident, but the controversy adds to a series of debated calls in the tournament, including a previous incident involving Lionel Messi.
