Why Belgium’s late penalty appeal against Spain was rejected

CALIFORNIA: Belgium’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals ended in controversy after a late handball appeal against Rodri was turned down by referee Michael Oliver.

Belgian players demanded a penalty when the ball struck Rodri’s arm inside the box, but Oliver waved play on and VAR upheld the decision. While the incident sparked widespread debate, the officials acted in accordance with IFAB’s handball laws.

The ball had deflected directly off teammate Aymeric Laporte’s header onto Rodri’s arm from close range, leaving him with no time to react. Under the laws of the game, such an incident is not considered a handball offence if the player’s arm is in a natural position.

Spain went on to seal a 2-1 victory through Mikel Merino’s late winner, booking a semi-final clash with France, while Belgium’s World Cup campaign came to a controversial end.