Why Was Spain Awarded a Penalty vs. France Despite Lamine Yamal's Handball? Inside Referee Ivan Barton's Polarizing Decision
Spain could not have asked for a better first half against France. The Spaniards were awarded a penalty before the hydration break, and Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot.
In a moment of error, Luca Digne kicked the oncoming Lamine Yamal from his blindside. Referee Ivan Barton did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot. Despite protests from Kylian Mbappé and others over potential handball from Lamine Yamal before the foul, VAR did not intervene.
Why Did Spain Still Receive the Penalty Against France
According to FIFA's laws, not every attacking handball automatically cancels a subsequent goal-scoring opportunity.
Yamal's handball did not create the foul; hence, the penalty was instantly awarded and did not have to be overturned.
The officiating wasn't the only major storyline to emerge from France's disastrous first half.
William Saliba Injury: Why Is He Not Playing in France vs. Spain?
William Saliba's semifinal ended early before halftime with an internal injury against Spain. The French defender stopped the play and signalled to the dugout to be substituted.
The Arsenal defender had been one of Didier Deschamps' most consistent players in the tournament. But his fitness issues have finally caught up with him.
Saliba has been dealing with a back issue since the beginning of the tournament.
France was closely monitored during the group stage, with some of his training sessions being cut short to ensure he was fit for the knockout stage. Despite those precautions, the discomfort persisted.
Saliba had missed several team training sessions before the semi-final, while France's medical team worked on the problem.
The defender's training regime had been cut during the tournament in particular, due to his persistent back pain.
William Saliba looks unable to continue after going down injured and is expected to be forced off.
— RRRNews (@RRRNewsport) July 14, 2026
A huge concern for France with the World Cup reaching its decisive stage.
Wishing him a speedy recovery. #FIFAWorldCup#WorldCup#France#Salibapic.twitter.com/scf4RvYbQg
Maxence Lacroix replaced William Saliba before the 30-minute mark for the remainder of the game.
Between the disputed penalty decision and Saliba's absence, France needs a massive motivation for a comeback win.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM.