After the Netherlands misplaced to England in the Euro 2024 semi-very last, captain Virgil van Dijk criticized a controversial penalty decision. Van Dijk noted that the referee fast left the field after the healthy, leaving him no danger to shake hands. The Netherlands had been main early on with a aim from Xavi Simmons however had been later tied when England became provided a penalty, ultimately losing after Ollie Watkins scored a overdue winner.
IIn the 14th minute, Harry Kane and Denzel Dumfries crashed into each other in the Netherlands’ penalty area. At first, referee Felix Zwayer pointed to give a goal kick, but after looking at VAR, he changed his mind and gave a penalty. Van Dijk didn’t hide his annoyance with this call telling beIN Sports, “I don’t know if I should say anything about that. I think it tells you everything that the referee went in quick after the game. I had no chance to shake his hand. But that’s how it goes, the game is over, we lost. Some moments were clear that they should have gone our way, but they didn’t, no matter what the result was.”
Van Dijk added that accepting the loss become hard, mainly for the reason that crew had excessive hopes for the event. He counseled that referees need to be held accountable and explain their choices, much like how gamers should justify their movements. Even though he criticized it, Van Dijk acknowledged how important it is to think about how you played.
Former England defenders Garry Neville and Jamie Carragher also disagreed with the penalty call. Neville said it was a shameful decision, while Carragher wrote on X, “never a penalty.”
England will face Spain on Sunday in the Euro 2024 final game in Berlin.