Ghana were denied ‘clear penalty’ Against England – Former England referee Darren Cann

Two soccer players clash for the ball mid-field, one in a white jersey and the other in yellow, both stretching for control as a ball rolls ahead on the grass.

By Jamaldeen Wiayuka June 24, 2026

Former FIFA assistant referee Darren Cann has said Ghana should have been awarded a penalty in their controversial goalless draw with England, adding fresh weight to claims that the Black Stars were denied a crucial decision in their FIFA World Cup Group L encounter.

Cann, who served as an assistant referee during the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, said referee Said Martinez and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team made the wrong call when they failed to award Ghana a penalty after Prince Kwabena Adu appeared to be fouled inside the England penalty area.

The incident occurred in the second half when Adu drove into the box before going to ground following a challenge from England defender Ezri Konsa. Despite strong appeals from Ghana’s players, referee Martinez waved play on, while VAR chose not to intervene.

Speaking on BBC One after the match, Cann admitted that although he was pleased England escaped punishment as a supporter, the decision was incorrect from an officiating perspective.

“As an England fan, I am delighted that it wasn’t given,” he said.

“But I have to be honest, for me this should have been referred.”

Explaining his assessment, Cann said: “Konsa makes absolutely no contact at all with the ball; he brings down his opponent. He is airborne, he is out of control, he makes contact with the attacker. For me, this was a penalty kick.”

Cann’s remarks are likely to intensify debate over the decision, particularly because they come from a former elite FIFA official rather than a member of the Ghana camp.

His comments echoed the frustration expressed by Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz, who questioned the effectiveness of VAR after the final whistle.

“We still have VAR? It’s working?” Queiroz said sarcastically.

“Another penalty they needed to give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England.”

The decision could prove significant in the context of Ghana’s World Cup campaign. A successful penalty would have handed the Black Stars all three points and secured qualification for the Round of 32 with one group match remaining.

Instead, Ghana must now avoid defeat against Croatia in their final Group L fixture on Saturday to guarantee a place in the knockout stage.

For many Ghanaian supporters, Cann’s verdict has reinforced feelings of frustration over what they believe was a decisive officiating error. With a former England official publicly stating that Ghana should have been awarded a penalty, questions are likely to persist over why neither the on-field referee nor VAR intervened during one of the game’s defining moments.