Spain’s 2-0 World Cup semi-final victory over France included an early refereeing controversy after Lucas Digne’s challenge on Lamine Yamal resulted in a penalty.

The incident occurred in the 22nd minute at Dallas Stadium. Digne attempted to control a high ball inside the French penalty area but appeared unaware that Yamal was approaching from behind.

The Spanish winger reached the ball first before Digne’s attempted clearance caught him on the leg. Replays also showed the ball making contact with Yamal’s arm, leading France’s players and supporters to question whether the handball should have been penalised before the foul.

Salvadoran referee Iván Barton allowed the penalty to stand, and Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot to give Spain the lead. Pedro Porro later added a second goal as Spain secured a 2-0 victory and a place in the World Cup final.

Read also: Putin grants Russian citizenship to leading Citroën designer

Referee explains why handball was not given

Former international referee Saïd Ennjimi supported Barton’s decision, arguing that Yamal’s arm was in a natural position and had not been used deliberately to control the ball.

“Lamine Yamal turns because he is afraid of taking the ball in the face, and he does not artificially extend his arm. His position is natural and his arm is against his body,” Ennjimi said, according to L’Équipe.

His assessment was shared by former international referee Bruno Derrien, who also concluded that Yamal had not made his body unnaturally bigger.

“Arm against the body, no increase in his surface area,” Derrien said.

Read also: “We lost against ourselves”: Cherki delivers blunt verdict after France defeat

Under the handball law, contact between the ball and a player’s hand or arm is not automatically an offence. A player is generally penalised when the contact is deliberate or when the position of the arm makes the body unnaturally bigger.

Digne punished for costly mistake

The incident began when Marc Cucurella sent a high ball into the French penalty area. Digne tried to bring it under control but did not see Yamal moving in behind him.

Yamal anticipated the situation and placed himself between the defender and the ball. Digne then swung his leg in an attempt to clear it but instead caught the Barcelona forward on the lower thigh.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was critical of Digne’s awareness during the incident.

Read also: “We never imagined France losing”: Paris left stunned by Spain defeat

“He has got to be aware of where he is, that he is going to gamble,” Neville said, as quoted by The Independent. “He does not even know he is there. He has not got a clue.”

Although the arm contact created debate, the decisive issue was whether Yamal had deliberately handled the ball or positioned his arm unnaturally. Ennjimi and Derrien concluded that he had done neither, leaving Digne’s late challenge as the punishable offence.

Oyarzabal made no mistake from the resulting penalty, placing Spain in control of a semi-final they would go on to win comfortably.

Read also: “It’s hard to describe just how proud I am”: United sign Tielemans

Read also: “We put Norway on the map”: Haaland leaves World Cup as a global phenomenon