Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2 in a World Cup Round of 32 match after a controversial penalty was awarded in extra time [1].
The result eliminated Senegal from the tournament and sent Belgium into the round of 16. The match highlighted the ongoing tension surrounding the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in high-stakes international football.
The game took place Dec. 1, 2022, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar [4, 5]. Senegal held a 2-0 lead for a significant portion of the match before Belgium mounted a comeback [3]. The contest remained undecided until the second minute of added time in extra time—specifically the 120+2 minute—when officials awarded Belgium a penalty [2].
VAR officials judged that a Senegal player handled the ball in the penalty area [6, 7]. Belgium converted the kick to secure the 3-2 victory [1]. The decision sparked immediate unrest on the pitch. A Newsweek analyst said, "It was pure chaos after the decision" [3].
Reactions to the call remained divided among players and analysts. An unnamed Senegal player said, "We were furious – it was not a penalty" [8]. Shaka Hislop of ESPN FC said, "I think the call was correct" [9].
While Yahoo Sports reported that VAR determined there was a clear handball [2], other analysis suggested the incident was highly questionable, and that the penalty may not have been warranted [7]. The match ended with Belgium advancing and Senegal exiting the competition following the late VAR intervention [1].
“Belgium overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2”
This match underscores the volatility of VAR-driven outcomes in knockout tournaments, where a single subjective interpretation of handball rules can decide the fate of a national team. The disparity in opinion between professional analysts and the officiating crew reflects the continuing struggle to standardize officiating across the sport.
