Why was Nathan Ngoy red carded in Iran vs Belgium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Belgium were reduced to ten men when defender Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red card in the group match against Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.

Ngoy got into a duel for the ball with Mehdi Taremi in the 66th minute and eventually dragged Iran in front as the referee immediately stopped play and gave marching orders to the 23-year-old defender.

Why did Nathan Ngoy get a red card in Iran versus Belgium?

Nathan Ngoy violated Law 12.4 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulations, which determine the rules of the game.

The law suggests that a player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offenses will be sent off:

• denying the opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an intentional handball violation (except a goalkeeper within his penalty area)

• denying the opponent a goal or a clear goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-intentional handball violation outside one’s own penalty area

• denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose general movement is towards the offender’s goal, by an offense punishable by a free kick (except as set out below)

• serious foul play

• bite or spit on someone

• violent behavior

• the use of insulting, abusive or insulting language and/or action(s)

• receive a second warning in the same match

• entering the video operating room (VOR)

Ngoy committed the offense by ‘denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose movement is in the direction of the offender’s goal, by an offense punishable by a free kick’.

The Lille defender received a straight red card.

Published on June 22, 2026