England’s contentious penalty in their Euro 2024 semi-final victory over the Netherlands was deemed unjust by a former FIFA referee.
Gareth Southgate’s team advanced to their second consecutive European Championship final by defeating the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday night.
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The Netherlands seized an early lead in the seventh minute with a remarkable long-range strike by Xavi Simons, but England were handed an opportunity to equalize following a generous penalty decision.
Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries attempted to block Harry Kane’s shot but was penalized for clipping the England captain with his foot.
VAR reviewed the incident, and after reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the penalty spot.
Kane converted the penalty to draw England level, setting the stage for potential extra time and another penalty shootout before Ollie Watkins’ dramatic low finish in the 90th minute secured a last-minute triumph for the Three Lions, who now face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
The Dutch players were incensed by Zwayer’s decision to award England a penalty, but in his post-match analysis for Swedish broadcaster SVT Sports, former FIFA referee Jonas Eriksson asserted that a critical offense was overlooked just moments before Dumfries made contact with Kane’s foot during his attempted block.
Eriksson, who officiated at the 2014 World Cup and oversaw Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup final in 2013 and Liverpool’s Europa League final in 2016, highlighted that England’s Bukayo Saka handled the ball before the challenge that led to the penalty against the Netherlands.
Television replays confirmed that the ball bounced up and struck Saka’s hand before falling into Kane’s path for his shot on goal, prompting Eriksson to argue that VAR should have intervened to negate England’s penalty.
“I’m surprised they didn’t review and overturn the penalty,” Eriksson remarked during his analysis. “According to the rules, it’s a penalty. However, in practical terms, when interpreting it, I don’t believe it should result in a penalty. Saka’s handball was clear, meaning no penalty should have been awarded to Kane.”
Reflecting on the incident where Dumfries was penalized for blocking Kane’s shot, the Dutch defender told Dutch broadcaster NOS, “It was a tough situation. At that moment, the ball just fell in between us and I tried to block the shot, so I ended up hitting it.
“There was contact, so at that point, you know the referee might give it. It’s really disappointing. I take responsibility for that. It wasn’t intentional, but it happened in a split second.”
During halftime analysis on ITV, former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville strongly criticized the penalty decision, labeling it a “disgrace.”
“As a defender, I find it absolutely disgraceful,” Neville exclaimed. “To have that penalty given against me at any time, let alone in a match of such significance… I was furious about the Denmark one a few weeks ago, the handball incident; that was also disgraceful. I was offended by that one.
“Honestly, he just went in to block the shot. It’s not a penalty, in my opinion. It’s nowhere near a penalty, and I have to say, not many England players were even appealing for it. Harry stayed down, he got a slight tap on his foot, but it’s never a penalty for me. Obviously, you make your own luck. England played really well in that first half.”
