Spain beat France 2-0 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final after a penalty was awarded following a foul on Lamine Yamal by Lucas Digne. Multiple replays circulated showing the ball making contact with Yamal’s arm in the lead-up to the foul, prompting questions about whether the incident should have been overturned by VAR. Analysts and rules experts point to the IFAB Laws of the Game, which do not treat every ball-to-arm touch as a punishable handball offence. They say officials must assess factors such as whether the contact is deliberate, whether the arm is in an unnatural position, and whether the player gains an unfair advantage.
Some debate centers on whether a punishable handball occurred before Digne’s challenge, which would have required the match to be stopped and would have prevented the subsequent penalty being given. Reported explanations note that the referee allowed play to continue after the arm contact, indicating VAR and the officials determined it did not breach the handball law. Spain’s goal then followed shortly after the penalty was converted, putting them in control, while France publicly questioned the decision.
