In the intense semi-final match of the 2024 European Championship, England and the Netherlands clashed, with England ultimately securing a narrow 2-1 victory over the Dutch thanks to Kane’s penalty and Watkins’ decisive strike, advancing to the final. However, some refereeing decisions in this game, particularly Kane’s penalty, have sparked significant ire from the Dutch head coach, Koeman.
At the 15th minute mark, as Kane received the ball inside the box and prepared to shoot, Dutch defender Dumfries accidentally kicked Kane’s foot, causing him to go down. Initially, referee Felix Brych did not immediately make a call but was prompted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. After careful consideration, Brych awarded England a penalty and showed a yellow card to Dumfries.
Kane stepped up to take the penalty himself, coolly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. Although the Dutch goalkeeper made an attempt to save it, he could not prevent the goal. This equalized the score at 1-1, after Simons had given the Netherlands an early lead. England secured their victory in the second half with a goal from Watkins.
Post-match, Koeman expressed his extreme dissatisfaction with the referee’s decision during the press conference, stating bluntly, “This is a typical case of VAR intervention. As a defender, how are you supposed to defend in such situations? It was not a penalty.” He further added, “Football is being destroyed by these types of decisions and the usage of VAR.”
Besides disputing the penalty decision, Koeman also questioned Brych’s refereeing style. “I felt he blew the whistle too often, with many calls seeming forced. If the same situation occurred in England, I’m sure the referee wouldn’t blow so easily.” While acknowledging that the Dutch loss cannot be entirely blamed on the referee – “We lost because England scored a brilliant second goal” – Koeman did feel that “the referee was too sensitive to minor physical contacts, blowing the whistle too readily.”
Although Koeman protested the referee’s decisions, he also emphasized that the team should look inward for the reasons behind their defeat rather than solely blaming the officials. This incident has reignited discussions about the role of VAR in modern football and its impact on the game.