Dutch fans FUME over controversial penalty decision in Euro 2024 semi-final loss to England – as new footage appears to show Bukayo Saka handle the ball BEFORE Denzel Dumfries’ foul on Harry Kane
DAILY MAIL
Dutch fans have insisted they were ‘robbed’ by a controversial penalty decision in their 2-1 semi-final loss to England on Wednesday night.
The Netherlands had gone in front after seven minutes through Xavi Simons, but England came back into the game and earned a penalty 11 minutes later.
Bukayo Saka slalomed into the box before having his shot blocked, and the follow-up dropped to Harry Kane who fired over the bar before being caught by Denzel Dumfries on the ankle.
It was a painful blow for the Three Lions captain, and following a VAR intervention a penalty was given, which Kane duly converted to bring England level.
But new footage has emerged that appears to show Saka handling the ball before Kane took his shot and was fouled by Dumfries.
After having his shot blocked, the ball rebounded back towards Saka and seemed to brush his right hand, while it may also have clipped his left arm before dropping to Kane.
The officials appeared to fail to spot this, leaving Dutch supporters furious.
‘The Netherlands were 100% robbed!’ one fan claimed.
‘VAR even missed or didn’t care about Saka’s handball on both hands before the penalty situation. Lucky England should thank the refs.’
Another fan tweeted out a longer clip, adding: ‘Tweet out the first handball as well, he didn’t just touch it once in this situation but multiple times’.
[…] The Netherlands were also left questioning a decision in the build-up to Ollie Watkins’ 90th-minute winner for England.
They felt they should have had a corner after John Stones headed the ball behind from a Dutch free-kick, but Zwayer awarded England a goal kick.
England then went up the other end and scored to book their place in Sunday’s final against Spain.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was unhappy with the officiating during Wednesday’s game, and called for the referee to be ‘held accountable’.
‘I think it says it all that the referee went in quite quickly after the game,’ Van Dijk told beIN Sports.
‘I had no time to shake his hand. But it is what it is, the game is done, we lost, certain moments were obvious that they should have gone our way, but they didn’t, whatever the outcome.
‘It is difficult to accept this. It has been a tough year. We had a big dream and we felt we could have achieved it.
‘They keep changing certain things, small changes that could have a big impact. Maybe it’s a good thing that they could be held accountable as well.
