Wayne Rooney and former assistant referee Darren Cann have found themselves on opposite sides of a heated debate following a controversial incident involving Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.

At the centre of the argument is a challenge made by Vasilj on Canada forward Tani Oluwaseyi. Rooney contends the goalkeeper's actions warranted a red card — a view that Cann firmly rejects.

Cann, who brings years of top-level officiating experience to the discussion, argues the incident did not meet the threshold for a dismissal, placing him at direct odds with the former England striker.

The disagreement highlights the ongoing debate around goalkeeper challenges and how the laws of the game are applied when goalkeepers leave their line to contest possession — a grey area that continues to divide pundits and officials alike.

Oluwaseyi, who plays for Canada, was on the receiving end of the challenge that has sparked this controversy, adding another flashpoint to what promises to be an intense World Cup qualifying campaign for the Concacaf and European nations involved.