Ex-refs chief re-analyses Spain vs Belgium penalty controversy in World Cup semi-final

Referee Michael Oliver was right not to award Belgium a penalty for handball during their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that it was not a deliberate action from Rodri due to a teammate heading the ball onto his arm.

Belgium were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup on Friday thanks to a late Mikel Merino winner.

However, many Belgian fans believed that the Lowland nation should have been awarded a penalty at 1-1 when Aymeric Laporte appeared to head the ball onto Rodri’s arm when attempting to clear a cross.

Oliver did not award a spot kick and VAR did not advise the referee to review the decision at the monitor despite replays clearly showcasing that the ball hit the Manchester City midfielder’s arm.

Nevertheless, Hackett has insisted that the officials made the right call during the World Cup showdown.

Rodri’s handball was not deliberate vs Spain

Upon reviewing the footage of the incident, the former referee exclusively told Football Insider: “The referee judged this one accurately. 

“The action was not deliberate; the ball headed directly onto his arm from a colleague.

“No deliberate action here.”

As a result, Belgium have once again failed to win a trophy with their golden generation.

Spain will now progress into the semi-finals, where they will face France.

The game will take place on Tuesday at 8pm UK time.

Can Spain overcome France in the semi-finals?

Going into the semi-final, France are no doubt the favourites, not just to beat Spain, but to win the World Cup.

This is despite Spain being the holders of the Euros and only conceding one goal so far this summer tournament.

Going into the game, it is perhaps unfair to completely rule out the Spanish based on their recent record.

The two nations have clashed numerous times in recent years, with Spain winning the last two meetings.

These were big games too, both being semi-finals in the National League in 2025 and the Euros in 2024.

France’s last win against Spain was in the 2021 Nations League final when they won 2-1.

However, the French have not overcome Spain at either the Euros or the World Cup since the 2006 World Cup, as they beat the Iberian nation 3-1 in the round of 16.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen who is able to secure the victory and progress into the final on Tuesday.