Euro 2024: The referee altered the outcome — Gary Neville

Gary Neville does not believe the outcome of the Euro 2024 semi-final match between England and Netherlands was a fair result to the Dutch team.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has vocally criticized referee Felix Zwayer’s contentious decision to award England a penalty during their Euro 2024 semi-final clash against the Netherlands. Neville’s condemnation comes as the football world debates the controversial call that played a pivotal role in England’s 2-1 victory.

Xavi Simons had given the Netherlands an early lead with a brilliant strike, setting the stage for what promised to be a gripping encounter.

However, the Euro 2024 game took a controversial turn when Harry Kane hit the turf just before the 20-minute mark. Initially, Zwayer had awarded a goal kick, but following a VAR review, he reversed his decision and awarded England a penalty, much to the dismay of the Dutch team and their supporters.

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Denzel Dumfries was booked for clipping Kane, who had already missed his initial shot. Kane made no mistake the second time, converting the penalty to level the score. The match culminated in a dramatic finish with Ollie Watkins netting a late goal to secure England’s place in the final against Spain.

Speaking on ITV, Neville did not hold back in his assessment of the penalty decision.

“As a defender, I think it’s an absolutely disgraceful decision,” he said. “There’s no way that was a penalty. He just goes in naturally to block the shot. It’s not a penalty for me.”

Neville’s comments have ignited a broader discussion about the use of VAR and the consistency of refereeing decisions in critical matches. His perspective, as a former defender, adds a unique dimension to the debate, highlighting the complexities and split-second judgments that define football at the highest level.

While England celebrates their back-to-back Euro finals appearance, the aftermath of the semi-final leaves a cloud of controversy. The decision not only impacted the game but also raised a lot of questions and debates.

Gary Neville is not the only one criticizing the outcome of the match, but Netherlands and Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk.