Former South African footballer Benni McCarthy expressed strong disapproval of refereeing decisions during the FIFA World Cup Group C opening match. The controversy centers around a forceful tackle by Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi on Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, which went without penalty. McCarthy suggested that a similar foul committed against a South African player would have resulted in immediate disciplinary action. He characterized the decision as biased, implying preferential treatment. The incident occurred during Saturday evening’s match in New Jersey. The lack of a call has sparked debate regarding consistency in officiating at the tournament. No injuries were reported following the challenge, but the non-call remains a point of contention.