Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk has criticized referee Felix Zwayer for his controversial penalty call leading to England’s equalizer against his team in the Euro 2024 semi final.
After losing to England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, Virgil van Dijk acknowledges that the it was an heartbreaking experience to lose in such manner.
The Netherland’s had taken the lead via a seventh minute strike from Xavi Simons, but Ronald Koeman’s team’s fate was altered by a contentious penalty kick given to the Three Lions in the first half.
England were awarded a penalty after Harry Kane had come in contact with Denzel Dumfries. The decision which was initially waved off by Zwayer was later overturned after VAR had stepped in, asking the on-field official to go look at the monitor.
The Dutch eventually lost the game by 2-1 courtesy of substitute Ollie Watkins’ late strike, which was perfectly set up by Cole Palmer.
Virgil Van Dijk on referee’s penalty decision
After the match, Virgil Van Dijk, who was left mystified by the call said it’s time to hold officials “accountable” for their actions.
The loss denied the Dutch a chance to win the European Championship for just the second time in their history, after they achieved this feat in 1988, which was the only time they ever made it to the final.
Meanwhile, Sports Buddy recently reported in other news about the shocking conversation between Watkins and Palmer before the duo came off the bench, combining to send England into the final.
