A flying kick to the head still let Germany's goal stand! The female referee sparks controversy for consecutive World Cup matches, having previously cost the Czech Republic.

On June 26 Beijing time, the final round of World Cup Group E came to an end. In one of the contests, Ecuador overturned Germany 2-1 to claim their first victory of the competition, while the German team experienced their first defeat. The decisions of American referee Tori Penso in this game once again generated debate.

Just two minutes into the match, Wirtz assisted Sane for a goal. However, during the build-up, German midfielder Pavlovic raised his foot excessively high and struck an Ecuadorian player in the head. Referee Tori Penso made no call, and VAR did not intervene. Notably, the video assistant referee for this match was Chinese official Fu Ming. Many journalists considered this decision a clear mistake.

AS journalist Tomás Roncero bluntly stated: "The VAR at the World Cup is a disaster, a terrible stain on football. If they don't think this is a foul, then they know nothing about the sport." BBC reporter Simon Stone posted: "Another controversial VAR decision!"

It's worth noting that Tori Penso also caused a major controversy in her previous World Cup match. In the second round of the group stage, during the 82nd minute of the Czech Republic's 1-1 draw with South Africa, Tapelo Maseko's shot struck Czech player Schultz, and referee Tori Penso awarded a penalty, which Mokena subsequently converted.

However, media outlets such as the BBC and the Mirror questioned the correctness of that decision, while fans noted that Schultz was too close to the shot to avoid the ball, making the penalty call too strict.

Ultimately, that goal indirectly led to the Czech Republic's elimination. After drawing with South Africa, they suffered a heavy defeat to Mexico in the final round, and the "Eastern European Iron Cavalry" bid a somber farewell to the World Cup.

It is noteworthy that Tori Penso is the first female referee to appear in this World Cup. In 2019, already a mother of three, she left her executive position to become a full-time football referee.

Since then, she has officiated in several major tournaments including the Women's World Cup, Men's World Cup qualifiers, Men's Club World Cup, and the Paris Olympics, making her the most widely experienced female referee globally. She has also served as a long-term FIFA referee instructor, promoting the professional development of female referees worldwide.