Barely 11 minutes after Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands a 1-0 lead over England in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semifinal, a extremely contentious determination allowed the Three Lions to equalize.
The controversial second noticed England being awarded a penalty when Harry Kane went down in ache after being upended by Denzel Dumfries. Initially, referee Felix Zwayer known as for a purpose kick, however seconds later, a VAR assessment was known as upon. Simply as Zwayer checked the monitor, ITV on-air announcer and English legend Lee Dixon mentioned he could be “astonished” if a penalty was awarded.
After Zwayer granted Kane a penalty, Manchester United legend Gary Neville called the decision “an absolute disgrace” and led a tirade on social media. Neville famous that none of England’s gamers on the sphere have been calling for a penalty kick, both, solely including to the strangeness of the official’s determination.
“Look, as a defender myself, that was an absolute shame,” Neville mentioned throughout ITV’s halftime present. “That was nowhere close to a penalty at any time, however particularly in a sport of such significance…. He [Dumfries] simply goes in naturally to try to block the shot. It is nowhere close to a penalty and I do not assume many England gamers have been claiming for it both.”
When Ian Wright defended the choice by calling Dumfries’ shot contest “reckless,” Neville snapped again: “We’re all going mad. If somebody thinks that’s reckless, truthfully.”
Moreover Dixon and Neville, Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer additionally slammed the choice. While Carragher made his feelings known by way of social media, Shearer mentioned on BBC’s broadcast that Dumfries was in a superbly authorized place when he tried to dam the ball from Kane.
“There isn’t a doubt that there’s contact, however the defender [Dumfries] is making an attempt to dam the ball,” Shearer mentioned. “The comply with by means of from Harry Kane makes the connection and I did not assume it was a howler to be turned over [by VAR review].”
You realize England obtained fortunate when 4 of its legends assume the crew did not deserve a penalty.
Elsewhere, Netherlands legend Pierre van Hooijdonk called for Zwayer to “be blacklisted” for his determination, and Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk did not maintain again on his criticism of the referee, both.
