newzechoblogFIFA’s Referees Committee has issued its final verdict on Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh following one of the most controversial moments of the 2026 World Cup qualifying window. After a 12-day review, FIFA has made an official decision on the referee over a “terrible mistake” that directly influenced England’s 2-0 win over DR Congo at Wembley.
The sanction is significant: Makhadmeh has been removed from FIFA’s international list for the rest of the cycle, while his VAR, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, has been handed a multi-match suspension. England keep the win, but the episode has reignited the debate over VAR accountability, referee standards, and what happens when a single call changes the tone of a whole campaign.
The Incident That Changed The Game
The match was tight at 0-0 when the controversy struck in the 52nd minute.
DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa broke in behind England’s high line, was clipped by Marc Guéhi on the edge of the box, and tumbled. Makhadmeh pointed to the spot immediately. Wembley erupted. DR Congo thought they had a golden chance to take the lead.
VAR intervened. Replays showed Guéhi got a clear touch on the ball before any contact with Wissa. Under Law 12, that is not a foul. After a lengthy review, Makhadmeh was sent to the pitch-side monitor. He watched it twice, then overturned his own decision. No penalty.
But the damage was already done. While the decision was eventually corrected, FIFA’s review found a separate, more serious error earlier in the sequence.
In the 49th minute, England’s Harry Kane went down in the DR Congo box under a challenge from Chancel Mbemba. Replays showed Mbemba’s knee made contact with Kane’s ankle after the ball was gone. It was a textbook penalty. Makhadmeh waved play on and VAR did not recommend a review.
England scored two minutes later through Bukayo Saka, with the momentum fully shifted. DR Congo never recovered.
DR Congo’s FA lodged a formal protest within 24 hours, citing “two decisive errors that altered the competitive balance of a World Cup qualifier.”
FIFA’s Investigation: What Went Wrong
FIFA does not re-referee matches. But when a member association files a complaint and broadcast evidence is clear, the Referees Department runs a full audit.
For Makhadmeh, FIFA examined three areas:
- On-field accuracy: Did the referee miss a clear penalty for England, then award a non-existent one to Congo?
- VAR process: Why did the VAR room fail to flag the Kane incident as “clear and obvious”?
- Game management: Did the sequence of errors affect player conduct and match integrity?
The VAR audio, which FIFA shared in summary form with both FAs, was critical. On the Kane incident, the VAR team said: “No clear foul, play on.” On the Wissa incident, they said: “Possible foul, recommend review.” FIFA’s assessors concluded the first call was the bigger mistake.
“The Kane penalty was clear and obvious. The VAR should have intervened,” FIFA’s report stated. “The subsequent incorrect penalty award to DR Congo, though overturned, showed a loss of decision-making control.”
The Official Decision
FIFA announced the outcome on Tuesday morning.
Key points from the statement:
- Adham Makhadmeh: Removed from the FIFA International Referees List until December 2026. He will not be considered for World Cup 2026, the 2025 Club World Cup, or any FIFA final tournament. He may continue to officiate in AFC competitions subject to AFC review.
- Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, VAR: Suspended from FIFA appointments for four matches and required to complete FIFA’s Elite VAR Recalibration Programme.
- Protocol update: FIFA will mandate a second VAR check on all penalty non-decisions inside the box during qualifiers, effective immediately.
FIFA was careful with its language. It called the errors “serious performance failures,” not misconduct. No suggestion of bias was made.
Why This Is A Landmark Call
This is one of the toughest punishments FIFA has given a referee for in-game errors in the VAR era.
1. International list removal mid-cycle is rare
Referees are usually downgraded after a tournament, not during qualifying. Removing Makhadmeh now signals FIFA wants to show it will act decisively when a World Cup place is on the line.
2. VAR is being held to the same standard as the on-field referee
For years, VARs have been protected if the on-field ref takes the final call. Not this time. De Burgos Bengoetxea’s suspension makes it clear: if you see a clear penalty and stay silent, you are accountable too.
3. England keep the result, but the narrative shifts
The 2-0 win stands. England are top of Group K. But every analysis of the campaign will now include a footnote: “England benefited from a missed DR Congo penalty, but were also denied one.”
Reaction From Both Sides
England: The FA said it “respects FIFA’s process” and reiterated that “players play to the whistle.” Gareth Southgate was diplomatic: “We don’t pick the officials. We take the result and move on. Harry’s incident was a penalty on another day.”
Privately, England staff are relieved the focus is on refereeing, not on their performance.
DR Congo: Head coach Sébastien Desabre did not hold back: “We lost a World Cup game because of one moment. FIFA admits it. That does not give us the points back, but it is truth.” The Congolese FA said it will push FIFA for “greater transparency” including full VAR audio release.
Yoane Wissa posted: “We fight for our country. We just want fairness.”
The Bigger Picture For VAR In 2026
FIFA has been selling this cycle as the most transparent yet. Referee mics, post-match reports, and faster VAR checks are all part of the plan. The Makhadmeh case tests that promise.
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb said: “The Kane call is the one FIFA got right in review. It was a penalty. The VAR should have said so.” Former FIFA official Pierluigi Collina added: “When two errors happen in three minutes, the referee loses control of the narrative. That’s what we must avoid.”
Stats back the concern. FIFA’s own data shows penalty non-interventions are up 14% in qualifying compared to 2022. Coaches are complaining that VAR is “re-refereeing” some calls while ignoring others.
What Happens To Makhadmeh Now?
At 37, Makhadmeh was seen as a rising AFC official with a World Cup 2026 spot in his sights. That path is now closed.
Sources close to the referee say he accepts the decision and will focus on domestic and AFC Champions League games. He released a short statement: “I respect FIFA’s findings. I made mistakes. I will learn and return stronger at federation level.”
For De Burgos Bengoetxea, the four-match ban means he misses the European playoff window. He must complete retraining before he can return to FIFA duty.
What It Means For England And DR Congo
England: Top of the group with 3 games left. They can afford to drop points and still qualify. But the team knows the win over Congo will always have an asterisk in DR Congo and in neutral media. The focus now shifts to the next qualifier without the distraction of a protest.
DR Congo: They sit 3 points off England with 3 to play. Mathematically they are alive, but they need England to slip and must win out. The feeling in Kinshasa is that they were denied a fair shot at Wembley. Whether that fuels a run or breaks morale will define their campaign.
FIFA Drawing A Line
Infantino has repeatedly said “errors that decide qualifiers cannot be ignored.” The Makhadmeh decision is FIFA acting on that.
By punishing both the referee and the VAR, FIFA is telling every official in the system: if it’s clear, you must act. Protecting the on-field ref is no longer an excuse for silence in the truck.
It won’t replay England vs DR Congo. It won’t give Congo the two points they believe they lost. But it does change the standard. In this World Cup cycle, “terrible mistakes” carry career consequences.
For Makhadmeh, it’s a brutal end to a FIFA trajectory. For the rest of world football, it’s a signal that VAR rooms are now as exposed as the man with the whistle in the middle.
Ejima hassan
newzechoblog
