Controversial moment leaves Black Stars supporters furious
One of the biggest talking points from Ghana’s dramatic 0-0 draw against England came in the 79th minute when Ghana winger Prince burst into the penalty area and appeared to be brought down after contact from England defender Rico Lewis.
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Despite loud appeals from the Black Stars players and bench, neither the referee nor VAR awarded a penalty, leaving many supporters and football analysts questioning the decision.
Breaking down the incident
The sequence began with Prince using his pace to beat England’s defence. Images from the incident show England right-back Rico Lewis making contact with Nuamah as both players challenged for the ball.
Several replays suggest Lewis did not make a clean challenge on the ball before Prince went down. Goalkeeper James Trafford was also advancing, creating further pressure inside the box.
From another angle, Prince appeared to have positioned himself between the defender and the ball, meaning the England defender had to play through the Ghanaian attacker to recover possession.
The central question remains simple: did Rico Lewis win the ball first, or did he impede the Ghanaian attacker before making contact with the ball?
Many fans argue that under modern interpretations, such contact inside the area should have resulted in a penalty.
Players involved and tactical context
Prince’s run highlighted one of Ghana’s most dangerous weapons throughout the match. His direct running repeatedly troubled England’s young defenders.
Rico Lewis found himself isolated in transition and was forced into a recovery challenge at full speed. In such situations, even slight contact can be decisive.
England goalkeeper James Trafford had already committed himself, which increased the pressure and reduced Prince’s options.
The incident also demonstrated how dangerous Ghana were on counter-attacks, exposing spaces behind England’s defensive line.
Did VAR miss something?
VAR exists to correct clear and obvious errors. However, because the referee initially allowed play to continue, the video officials evidently believed there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
That judgment has become one of the most debated moments of the game.
Former players and supporters have argued that if similar contact had occurred elsewhere, the outcome might have been different.
Carlos Queiroz blasts decision
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz did not hide his frustration after the match.
Speaking afterward, the experienced manager delivered one of the strongest reactions of the tournament:
“England were lucky. VAR went for coffee. A penalty should have been awarded to Ghana.”
The Portuguese tactician’s comments have added fuel to growing criticism over the consistency of VAR decisions.
Why this controversy matters
Football supporters accept mistakes, but VAR was introduced to eliminate obvious injustices. Moments like these continue to divide opinion and raise concerns about transparency and consistency.
For Ghana, the missed opportunity may feel particularly painful. Prince’s brilliant run deserved a decisive outcome, and many Black Stars supporters will believe their side was denied a chance to take all three points against England.
As debate continues, one thing is certain: the images from the 79th minute will be replayed for a long time, and questions surrounding VAR are unlikely to disappear.
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