Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston has taken another twist after the referee at the centre of the controversy finally broke his silence.
Mustapha Ghorba, who officiated the match, has addressed the growing backlash over a series of key decisions that left Haiti players and fans furious.
The Controversy
The match was overshadowed by several big moments that Haiti felt went against them.
In the 79th minute, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s shot appeared to strike Grant Hanley’s arm inside the penalty area. Despite loud appeals, play continued with no VAR intervention.
Earlier, another handball claim involving Hanley was also dismissed.
Then in stoppage time, Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean escaped with only a yellow card after a high challenge that caught Josue Casimir above the knee.
Haiti captain Johnny Placide was left frustrated after the final whistle.
“We waited for VAR to intervene, we waited for explanations, but nothing came,” he said.
Referee Breaks His Silence
Following the backlash, referee Mustapha Ghorba has now issued a statement defending his decisions.
He explained that both handball incidents were checked in real time and judged not to meet the threshold for a penalty, with VAR agreeing there was no clear and obvious error.
On the McLean challenge, Ghorba stated the contact was deemed “reckless rather than excessive force,” which is why a yellow card was issued instead of a red.
He added that VAR protocols were followed correctly throughout the match and insisted there was no interference from outside officials in the decision-making process.
FIFA’s Position
FIFA have reviewed the match officials’ performance and have confirmed that no disciplinary action will be taken.
They also backed the use of VAR during the game, stating that all incidents were assessed according to the current guidelines.
The Fan Reaction
Despite the explanation, fans remain unconvinced.
One wrote: “It’s the biggest robbery I’ve seen in my life.”
Another added: “How can VAR look at that and say no penalty?”
The Bottom Line
A controversial win for Scotland. A furious Haiti side. And now a referee forced to publicly defend his decisions after a storm of criticism.
The debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
