FRANCE were astonishingly denied a penalty as Kylian Mbappe was clattered by Sadio Mane in the box.
Referee Alireza Faghani somehow opted not to point to the spot after the clear foul.
The major flashpoint occurred just short of the hour mark as two-time world champions France took on Senegal in New Jersey.
Having previously laboured during the match, Mbappe turned on the afterburners as he motored down the right flank.
Former Liverpool star Mane made a desperate lunge attempting to stop the Real Madrid forward, only to bring him down.
Faghani, 48, incredibly pointed for a corner rather than a penalty, much to Mbappe’s astonishment.
The A-League ref was subsequently sent to the monitor by VAR to review his decision.
Bafflingly he decided to stick with his original call, claiming that Mbappe had looked for the contact.
Co-commentating for the BBC, Alan Shearer couldn’t believe the outcome.
The former England star said: “I don’t get it. You can see the lunge from Mane and his left leg catches Mbappe. How can Mbappe initiate contact if he is in front of him? It’s bizarre it really is.”
Working for 5Live, Pat Nevin added: “That is just rubbish. Utter nonsense. No chance at all. How can he [Kylian Mbappe] have initiated the contact? The most nonsensical line I have ever heard.”
Also on hand for the Beeb, ex-World Cup final assistant ref Darren Cann said: “I can’t support the referee’s decision to be honest. For me it is a clear penalty.
“My phone has blown up with messages from several of the world’s best referees who also can’t understand why a penalty wasn’t given.
“For me it is very, very clear and I am extremely surprised he did not point to the spot after a correct VAR review.”
Fans were also baffled, with one writing on X: “Stonewall penalty, what on earth is Mane doing”.
A second huffed: “That’s a penalty… France has been ripped… That defender didn’t touch the ball”.
And another added: “Stonewall penalty tbf”.
Mbappe did give France the lead barely five minutes later with a brilliant finish following a lovely reverse ball by Michael Olise.
In doing so, the superstar forward became his country’s joint all-time leading goalscorer – level on 57 with Olivier Giroud.
Substitute Bradley Barcola then doubled Les Bleus’ lead on 82 minutes chipping the ball over Edouard Mendy after being played in by a sensational Adrien Rabiot through ball.
And moments after Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal, Mbappe scored a screamer to put his side 3-1 up and move ahead of Giroud outright.