England penalty verdict delivered by refereeing expert after huge Euro 2024 controversy

Refereeing expert Christina Unkel admitted to being ‘surprised’ by the decision to award England a controversial penalty in its Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

The Three Lions were handed a chance to equalize against the Dutch in controversial circumstances in Dortmund after Harry Kane was judged to have been fouled by Denzel Dumfries. The Inter Milan defender caught the England captain as Kane volleyed towards goal.

The decision from VAR to send Felix Zwayer to the monitor was met with disbelief by many, with the German official deciding to point to the spot after reviewing the footage. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was among those to remonstrate with the referee, but to no avail.

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Instead, Kane stepped up and slotted home his penalty to bring England level after Xavi Simons’ superb strike had put the Netherlands ahead after just seven minutes.

It wasn’t just the Dutch that were left astonished by the decision to award England a penalty though. Working as ITV’s refereeing expert, Unkel admitted to being astounded by VAR’s decision.

“I am [astonished],” she admitted. “So one of the surprising things here is, yes, is there a studs contact from Dumfries onto the top of the boot from Kane? Correct. However, Kane is getting the shot off completely, his momentum is going through.

"I am quite surprised that this is being sent [to the pitchside monitor] because it is not a clear and obvious error and in fact the preferred recommendation is for this not to be a penalty.”

Liverpool.com says: If it didn’t feel like England’s name was on the trophy beforehand, it certainly does now. You could sense even a lot of England fans were left astonished by the decision to send the referee to the monitor, and once an official makes that square signal, you know what’s coming next. No wonder Van Dijk didn’t look happy…