England's Under-15 World Cup campaign has once again been thrown into turmoil after they beat Bolivia with an uncontested last-kick penalty.

The Young Lions were awarded a controversial 41st-minute penalty after West Ham's Emmanuel Famokun was brought down, despite the contact appearing to take place outside the box.

It sparked furious protests from the Bolivian players, who immediately surrounded the referee.

In extraordinary scenes, a coach marched onto the pitch and pointed to the spot where the challenge had taken place.

The referee subsequently issued multiple cards to members of the Bolivian backroom staff. When another coach also entered the pitch, someone on the England bench shouted: 'Send him off as well.'

In protest, the Bolivian players moved away from the penalty area and gathered by the touchline while the kick was taken. 

Their goalkeeper stood by the right-hand post and allowed Famokun to roll the ball into the opposite corner, remarkably refusing to contest the spot kick.

The referee blew the final whistle immediately after the ball hit the back of the net, prompting tensions to boil over.

Bolivia's players sarcastically applauded the official as England's youngsters ran off celebrating.

Scenes soon turned ugly, with one Bolivian substitute sent off for attempting to attack the referee after a coach had angrily confronted the official.

England's players rushed in to protect the referee before several altercations broke out between the two sets of players.

FIFA officials were then forced to intervene, while England's youngsters further angered their opponents by celebrating in their faces. FIFA and the FA have been contacted for comment.  

Similar scenes unfolded in the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year.

Morocco were awarded a controversial late penalty against Senegal, sparking a 15-minute protest as Senegalese players marched down the tunnel and refused to play on.

The game eventually resumed, Morocco's penalty was saved and Senegal went on to win in extra time. 

However, the African federation subsequently stripped them of the title. That decision remains in dispute, though, with Senegal challenging the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

Meanwhile, this was not the first England match disrupted at the tournament. On Tuesday, their tie against Ireland was rocked by a racism storm. 

Young Lions boss Matt Thorpe withdrew his players in the 40th minute after one of them claimed an opponent had called him a 'monkey' moments after the England youngster pushed his opponent in the back.

A member of the Irish backroom staff shouted 'no, he didn't' while the English player remonstrated, sparking a shouting match between the two benches.

The England player approached his bench and waited on the touchline as Thorpe spoke to the fourth official. And just before play could resume, the England coach ordered his team off the pitch.