Former World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas has been left baffled after referee Janny Sikazwe failed to award Canada a second penalty in their clash with Belgium.
The Maple Leafs had already missed one penalty in their clash with Roberto Martinez 's men as they looked to spring a shock. And they were left furious 13 minutes in when Sikazwe failed to award them another spot-kick as Belgium were left reeling by Canada's quick start.
Junior Hoilett sent a cross in from the left, with Jan Vertonghen clearing it only as far as Jonathan David, who saw his shot blocked by Axel Witsel. Eden Hazard picked up the loose ball on the edge of the box, took a touch and passed it back to Vertonghen.
That pass was nowhere near the Anderlecht defender, though, and was instead picked up by Canadian attacker Tajon Buchanan. As the attacker went to take a touch inside, Vertonghen came steaming in and took Buchanan's feet out from under him.
David then fired in a shot, but Thibaut Courtouis got down well to clear the ball with his legs. Before anyone could pick up the rebound, though, Sikazwe blew his whistle after his assistant put his flag up for offside.
That decision was a confusing one, given the fact that attacking players cannot be offside if the ball has been deliberately played by a defending player. That was clearly the case with Hazard's pass backwards, yet the assistant still raised his flag.
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Replays also showed that Vertonghen had been nowhere near the ball when he tackled Buchanan, meaning Canada had strong calls for a penalty. The VAR did not get involved though, with Fabregas left baffled.
"Isn’t this a back pass and a pen? What did I miss?" the former Spanish international midfielder tweeted. Fabregas was not alone in his confusion at seeing Sikazwe blow for offside and not a penalty, with fans also blasting the referee.
"Not only is it it a monumentally bad decision to give offside, it’s another stonewall penalty for Canada," one tweeted. Another added: "Canada robbed of another penalty by the referee. Linesman gave offside when Hazard passed the ball."
A third said: "So we just ignoring that a possible Canada penalty appeal has not been looked at because of an offside given - despite the fact it was a Belgium player who passed it back to him?"
Another fumed: "I'm sorry to bash a referee but missing three nail on penalties in play isn't good enough in a World Cup. One was corrected by VAR, but Canada should've had three penalties in this game and they've just been given one. Unacceptable at this level."
A final fan concluded: "That should've been another Canada penalty. Shocking. When you realise it's the ref that blew up for full time in the 86th minute.. Makes sense."
To add insult to injury for the Canadians, Michy Batshuyi put Belgium in front on the stroke of half-time. The Maple Leafs were unable to find an equaliser despite an impressive performance.
