New Delhi:
The Netherlands were leading after a seventh-minute goal from Xavi Simmons. England were handed a comeback after Harry Kane was caught on the follow-through by Denzel Dumfries when the English skipper shot over the bar. Though originally there was no penalty given, referee Felix Zwayer later pointed to the spot after he was advised to consult the monitor by VAR.
Kane levelled with the spot-kick, and later, substitute Ollie Watkins struck home the second goal in the 90th-minute winner. As a result, England will now go into the finals and face Spain. The decision decided the course of the game and has earned much attention since.
Ronald Koeman wasn’t holding back while retrospecting about the game. The Dutch boss maintained that the original decision should have stayed. Further, he noted that VAR “breaks” the football more.
Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk wasn’t happy with the decision either and admitted it was a turning point in the game. He mentioned that the decision didn’t go in their favour and that they must move on, and the team faced the brunt of VAR.
Van Dijk further said that referees should be required to explain their decisions when there is so much assistance available for them. The Oranje captain clashed with Zwayer on a couple of occasions and received a yellow card. Speaking about it later, Van Dijk said that it was unnecessary.
Former English defender Gary Neville also felt the Netherlands were right to feel like victims of a “disgraceful” decision. Even before the game started, Football experts, former players, and fans had questions about UEFA appointing Zwayer to officiate the high-intensity match. The German referee had previously been banned after he accepted a bribe in 2005.
What is VAR (Video Assist Referee)?
VAR (Video Assist Referee) is a technology-aided officiating system that helps the on-field referee. Match officials monitor the game remotely through multiple screens and get real-time access to video footage of the match with multiple camera angles. While other games have technology interference only when players ask for it, VAR continuously monitors the game.
It can, though, only give decisions on Goals, penalties, Direct red cards and mistaken identity of players. There has always been a divide in the usage of VAR. Every sport is using technology, and football is not behind this. It hasn’t integrated as well into the game as it has within other sports.
As Netherlands bow out UEFA Euro 2024, captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Ronald Koeman point out VAR decision that could have gone their way. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
