VAR Penalty Uproar
Pundits Split on VAR Penalty Denial as Scotland's World Cup Hopes Face Jeopardy
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Key Points
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ITV referee specialist Christina Unkel said the VAR/penalty assessment was driven by technical details—“We are not giving the penalty for the severity of the challenge… We are giving it more from the technical element side of it”—citing contact at the “knee portion” and “a step a bit on the left boot.”
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Unkel also described the specific VAR threshold issue as clear ball-contact absence, telling viewers: “The first thing you are looking for as a VAR is if there is any touch on that ball and the answer is no… You can see… there is no touch whatsoever,” while arguing it should still have been a penalty decision on the field and a VAR intervention missed.
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Duncan Ferguson, while defending a penalty for McTominay, specifically suggested John McGinn’s earlier appeal was even stronger: “I thought [John] McGinn’s was more of a penalty.”
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The Independent reported that the McTominay incident was Scotland’s “third” penalty appeal of the match and that it was the most vocal, with McTominay “continually pleading with referee Igliz Tantashev” as play moved to the other end.
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Regarding the earlier McGinn flashpoint, Tribuna.com said VAR “quickly backed the decision, ruling there was only minimal contact,” offering more detail on why the first appeal was dismissed than in the general match recap.
Scotland's World Cup campaign is hanging by a thread after a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in Boston on June 19, with two late penalty appeals denied in a result that could ultimately send them home. The most controversial moment came in the 82nd minute, when Scott McTominay was tripped in the box by Neil El Aynaoui — replays showed no ball contact — yet VAR did not step in, leaving McTominay
The defeat lifts Morocco to four points and top of Group C. Scotland sit second on three points but face Brazil in their final group game in Miami — a match they likely cannot afford to lose. Ismael Saibari had scored the only goal just 71 seconds in, the fastest strike of the 2026 World Cup, according to FIFA.com.
McTominay Tripped, VAR Silent, Scotland Furious
The decisive flashpoint came in the 82nd minute. El Aynaoui caught McTominay in the penalty area, making contact with his knee and left boot. Replays showed no touch on the ball whatsoever. Despite that, referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on and VAR did not intervene. The Independent noted this was Scotland's third penalty appeal of the match, with McTominay seen
ITV referee specialist Christina Unkel said the VAR team made a technical error.
Pundits Split: Stonewall Penalty or Clever Dive?
Duncan Ferguson had no doubts. He called the McTominay shout a
Roy Keane disagreed sharply.
McGinn's Earlier Appeal Was Also Waved Away
Scotland had a strong penalty claim four minutes into the second half too. John McGinn was brought down by El Aynaoui in the 49th minute. VAR reviewed the incident and ruled there was only
Scotland manager Steve Clarke refused to blame the referee after the match. He called the McGinn incident
Scotland Must Beat Brazil or Risk Going Home
The Group C picture is now brutal for Scotland. Morocco top the group on four points. Scotland have three. Brazil sit on just one point but have a game in hand against Haiti, according to Outlook India. A heavy Scotland defeat in Miami could see them rely on the
The stakes could not be higher historically. Scotland have never reached the knockout stage in nine World Cup appearances, according to Wikipedia. A win over Brazil would end that record. Anything less and 2026 could end the same way every other tournament has.
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