FIFA just confirmed what went down in the Mexico vs England game and as a result, two VAR officials have been suspended.

England secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico in one of the most controversial matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The encounter featured several major VAR interventions, including a penalty awarded to Mexico and the red card shown to England defender Jarell Quansah after a video review. Those decisions sparked fierce debate among fans, pundits and former referees, with many questioning the consistency of the officiating.

Following the match, England manager Thomas Tuchel did not hide his frustration. He described the standard of officiating as “not good enough” and criticised the inconsistency of several key decisions, insisting his side had been forced to overcome more than just a determined Mexican team.

Much of the controversy centred around Quansah’s dismissal. Referee Alireza Faghani initially allowed play to continue before being instructed to review the challenge on the pitch-side monitor by the VAR team. After watching the replay, he upgraded the punishment to a straight red card, leaving England to defend their lead with ten men.

Another flashpoint came when Mexico were awarded a penalty after another VAR review. While some analysts believed the decision was technically correct under the Laws of the Game, others argued the incident did not meet the threshold for intervention, reigniting the ongoing debate about consistency in VAR usage.

Since the final whistle, numerous posts on social media have claimed FIFA launched an investigation and suspended two VAR officials involved in the match. However, those reports have not been backed by any official FIFA announcement or reliable reporting.

Major news organisations covering the tournament have reported on Tuchel’s criticism and the refereeing controversy, but none have reported that FIFA has suspended two VAR officials because of the England versus Mexico game.

FIFA has, in other situations during this tournament, taken disciplinary actions through its judicial bodies. For example, the governing body recently made headlines over its handling of a separate disciplinary case involving United States forward Folarin Balogun. That unrelated decision generated significant criticism but demonstrates that FIFA does publicly announce major disciplinary rulings when they occur.

Former referees have nevertheless been highly critical of the officiating during England’s victory. Several television analysts argued that communication between the referee and VAR appeared inconsistent, while others questioned whether the video officials had correctly applied FIFA’s intervention protocol. Those criticisms have fuelled intense discussion among supporters worldwide, with many demanding greater transparency over the conversations that take place inside the VAR room.

England supporters believe Quansah’s dismissal was harsh, while many Mexican fans remain convinced their team was denied other important decisions during the contest. As a result, the officiating has become almost as heavily discussed as the football itself.

The controversy has also increased calls for FIFA to release VAR audio after major incidents, similar to practices adopted by some domestic competitions. Advocates argue that allowing fans to hear the conversations between the referee and VAR officials would improve transparency and rebuild trust in the technology.

For now, though, there is no verified evidence that FIFA has suspended two VAR officials following the Mexico versus England match. If FIFA were to take such action, it would almost certainly be announced through official channels and widely reported by major international sports media.

England, meanwhile, have moved on to prepare for their quarter final against Norway after surviving a tense finish against Mexico despite playing with ten men. Tuchel will now hope his players can put the officiating controversy behind them and focus on continuing their World Cup campaign.

The match will undoubtedly remain one of the most talked about fixtures of the tournament because of its drama, controversial decisions and emotional aftermath. However, fans should be cautious about sensational claims circulating online. At the time of writing, FIFA has not officially confirmed the suspension of two VAR officials over the England versus Mexico game, despite the widespread rumours that continue to circulate on social media.