adminFIFA has reached a final decision on Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh after reviewing one of the most debated officiating performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Following a 12-day investigation, football’s governing body concluded that significant officiating mistakes were made during England’s 2-0 victory over DR Congo at Wembley, leading to major disciplinary action against both the match referee and the VAR official.
Makhadmeh has been removed from FIFA’s international refereeing list for the remainder of the current cycle, while video assistant referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea has received a four-match suspension.
Although England’s victory remains unchanged, the case has intensified discussions surrounding VAR responsibility, refereeing standards, and the consequences of crucial mistakes in high-stakes international fixtures.
Controversial Moments at Wembley
The match remained goalless until a dramatic sequence of incidents shifted the contest.
In the 52nd minute, DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa broke beyond England’s defence before going to ground after contact from Marc Guéhi near the penalty area. Makhadmeh immediately pointed to the penalty spot, prompting celebrations from the visiting side.
However, the VAR intervened after reviewing the footage, which showed Guéhi had clearly played the ball before making any contact with Wissa. Following an on-field review, Makhadmeh overturned his original decision and cancelled the penalty.
Although the correct decision was eventually reached, FIFA’s investigation concluded that a more important mistake had already occurred just minutes earlier.
In the 49th minute, England captain Harry Kane was brought down inside the penalty area by Chancel Mbemba after the defender caught his ankle following the challenge. Despite television replays indicating clear contact, Makhadmeh allowed play to continue, and the VAR team chose not to recommend a review.
Only moments later, Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock for England, swinging the momentum firmly in the hosts’ favour as DR Congo struggled to recover.
Believing the officiating had directly influenced the outcome, the Congolese Football Federation formally protested the result within 24 hours, claiming two major refereeing mistakes had affected the fairness of the qualifier.
FIFA’s Review
While FIFA does not alter match results because of refereeing errors, the organisation launched a detailed assessment after receiving the official complaint and reviewing broadcast footage.
Investigators examined three key areas: whether the referee correctly interpreted major incidents, whether the VAR fulfilled its responsibilities, and whether the sequence of decisions affected the overall management and integrity of the match.
According to FIFA’s findings, the VAR incorrectly judged Kane’s appeal by concluding there was no obvious foul. Conversely, officials were right to advise an on-field review for the Wissa incident, which resulted in the incorrect penalty being overturned.
FIFA’s report described the failure to award England a penalty as the most significant error of the evening, stating that the incident clearly met the threshold for VAR intervention. It also noted that the later incorrect penalty awarded to DR Congo, despite being reversed, reflected a breakdown in decision-making during a crucial stage of the game.
Disciplinary Action Announced
FIFA confirmed its verdict on Tuesday, outlining several important measures.
Makhadmeh has been removed from FIFA’s International Referees List until December 2026, ruling him out of consideration for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Club World Cup, and other major FIFA tournaments. He may still officiate AFC competitions if approved by the Asian Football Confederation.
Meanwhile, VAR official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea has been suspended from FIFA appointments for four matches and must complete FIFA’s Elite VAR Recalibration Programme before returning to international duty.
FIFA also announced an immediate procedural change requiring an additional VAR review for all potential penalty incidents that are not awarded during World Cup qualifiers.
Despite the sanctions, FIFA stressed that its investigation found no evidence of bias or misconduct, describing the errors simply as “serious performance failures.”
A Rare Decision in the VAR Era
The punishment represents one of FIFA’s strongest responses to refereeing mistakes since VAR was introduced.
Removing an official from the international refereeing panel during an active qualification campaign is highly unusual and underlines FIFA’s determination to maintain confidence in officiating standards when World Cup qualification is at stake.
The decision also demonstrates that VAR officials will now be held equally accountable for clear errors rather than relying solely on the authority of the referee on the field.
Although England retain all three points and remain in a strong position in Group K, the match is likely to remain controversial because both teams were affected by important refereeing decisions during the contest.
Reactions
England’s Football Association accepted FIFA’s findings, reiterating that players must continue competing until the referee stops play.
Manager Gareth Southgate declined to criticise the officials directly, acknowledging that Kane’s challenge appeared worthy of a penalty while insisting his team could only focus on the result.
Behind the scenes, England are relieved that the discussion has shifted away from their overall performance and towards the officiating.
DR Congo, however, expressed disappointment that the disciplinary action cannot change the outcome.
Head coach Sébastien Desabre argued that his side lost an important World Cup qualifier because of key refereeing decisions and said the findings simply confirmed what his players already believed.
The Congolese Football Federation has also called for greater transparency by requesting the release of the complete VAR audio from the match.
Yoane Wissa echoed those sentiments on social media, stating that all the team wanted was fairness.
Wider Impact on VAR
The incident arrives at a time when FIFA has been promoting greater transparency through referee microphones, improved VAR communication, and quicker review procedures.
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb supported FIFA’s conclusions, saying Kane should have received a penalty and that VAR should have intervened.
Former FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina also highlighted the dangers of multiple major errors occurring within a short period, arguing that such situations undermine confidence in the officials’ control of a match.
Statistics released by FIFA indicate that failures to intervene in penalty situations have increased during the current qualifying campaign compared with previous World Cup cycles, leading to growing criticism from coaches and players.
What’s Next?
At 37 years of age, Makhadmeh had been regarded as one of Asia’s promising referees and was widely viewed as a strong candidate to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That opportunity has now disappeared following FIFA’s ruling.
In a brief statement, Makhadmeh accepted responsibility for his mistakes, saying he respected FIFA’s decision and intended to continue improving while officiating domestic and AFC competitions.
For Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the suspension means missing several important international appointments before he can return after completing additional training.
Looking Ahead
England remain favourites to qualify from Group K with three matches remaining and still have room for minor setbacks.
DR Congo, meanwhile, remain mathematically in contention but now face the difficult task of winning their remaining fixtures while hoping England drop valuable points.
Although the disciplinary action cannot alter the result at Wembley, FIFA’s response sends a clear message to referees and VAR officials worldwide that major mistakes in decisive qualification matches will carry significant professional consequences.
The England-DR Congo controversy may never be replayed, nor will the result change, but the case has become an important milestone in FIFA’s ongoing effort to strengthen accountability and improve officiating standards during the World Cup qualifying process.
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