England were handed a fortunate route back into their Euro 2024 semi-final against Netherlands when they were awarded a controversial penalty on 14 minutes that Harry Kane converted.
After Netherlands took the lead through Xavi Simons early on, England found a quick response from the penalty spot but Netherlands players were furious.
Kane shaped to shoot and his effort flew over the bar but after a VAR check, referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot – much to the dismay of many in the ground and beyond. The VAR for the clash was Bastian Dankert, who recommended that Zwayer look at the pitchside monitor after reviewing the incident.
Ollie Watkins’ stunning goal in the 90th minute sealed a historic first major final on foreign soil for England but, after the final whistle, the Dutch were still fuming about the penalty.
Virgil van Dijk said: “The referee ran back inside straight after the full time whistle – that says a lot.”
Kane said: “My foot’s hanging off so he definitely caught me! Sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t. I was happy to step up and see that go in the back of he net. It was a nice feeling for sure.”
‘I don’t think it’s a penalty but I don’t care’
In Telegraph Sport’s live coverage columnist Jamie Carragher said it was “never a penalty” while Lee Dixon, co-commentating on ITV, said: “I’m pleased, don’t get me wrong but you have to challenge for the ball. I don’t think it’s a penalty but I don’t care.”
Gary Neville and Ian Wright were involved in a heated exchange in the ITV studio at half time as they disagreed with the decision.
Neville said: “As a defender, I think it’s a disgrace. To give that penalty at any time, but in a semi-final. It’s nowhere near a penalty and not many England players were claiming it. You take your luck.”
Wright replied: “That is reckless. His studs are up. They’ve given it – anywhere else on the pitch and it’s a foul.”
But Neville snapped back: “If someone thinks that’s reckless? Honestly that’s not a penalty. There has to be licence to try and block the shot.”
Former England captain Alan Shearer, speaking on BBC 5 Live, said: “England players are looking at the referee, they think there is a collision. Denzel Dumfries does connect with Harry Kane. There was no contact to the ball from Dumfries.”
Michael Owen, who controversially won a penalty at the World Cup against Argentina in 2002 that David Beckham scored, said England had “got lucky” with the penalty.
The appointment of Zwayer was controversial because he was embroiled in a match-fixing scandal earlier in his career.
In 2006, Zwayer admitted taking money from banned referee Robert Hoyzer, who was accused of match-fixing but not of altering the outcome of a game. Zwayer was given a six-month DFB ban, having been one of the officials who brought Hoyzer’s match-fixing plot to light.
‘VAR was wrong to intervene’
The VAR was wrong to intervene. The referee’s judgement from a good position was correct. There was no foul and therefore no penalty kick should have been awarded.
This was not a clear and obvious error and sadly we see yet again VAR intervention and the referee not sticking with his original decision.
The referee was ideally positioned. VAR should not have intervened.
Starmer and Dutch counterpart watch at Nato meeting
At a Nato summit in Washington, prime minister Kier Starmer watched the penalty alongside his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof. The pair shared a handshake despite the controversy in the match between their teams.
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