Ex-FIFA referee gives new reason why England’s penalty against Netherlands should not have been given

England were awarded a contentious penalty.

A former FIFA referee has given a new reason why England’s penalty against the Netherlands should not have been given.

On Wednesday England reached a second successive European Championship final with a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands.

England fell behind early in the semi-final clash thanks to a Xavi Simons strike, but Harry Kane soon equalised from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Denzel Dumfries.

The match looked destined for extra-time until substitute Ollie Watkins latched onto a Cole Palmer pass and rifled a low effort into the far bottom corner.

England were the better side in the first half, but they struggled after half-time and were fortunate not to concede a second.

Many people – including former England defender Gary Neville – thought England were also handed a massive slice of luck when they were awarded a first-half penalty.

Kane was caught late by Dumfries after shooting over the bar, but referee Felix Zwayer didn’t award a penalty on the field.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) advised him to consult the pitchside monitor, after which he awarded England a spot-kick and booked Dumfries.

Whether Dumfries fouled Kane or not was a point of debate at half-time and after the match, but a former FIFA referee believes an incident before the foul should have prevented the awarding of a penalty.

Jonas Eriksson, who officiated at the 2014 World Cup, pointed out that England winger Bukayo Saka handled the ball seconds before Kane shot.

Denzel Dumfries’ challenge on Harry Kane resulted in a penalty. Image: Getty

“I am surprised that they don’t go and look and overturn the penalty,” Eriksson said, via Football365.

“According to the rulebook, it is a penalty. In reality, when you have to interpret it, I don’t think it should be a punishment.

“It is a clear hand [from Saka] and it means that no penalty should be awarded to Kane.”

Eriksson might be wrong though.

Saka’s handball was clearly accidental; the ball rebounded onto his hand, which was in a natural position given the momentum of taking a shot.

However, IFAB rules state that if a goal is scored directly from a handball, then the goal cannot stand.

But that isn’t what happened. The ball hit Saka’s hand, fell to Kane and he shot over the bar.

Kane was then fouled and a penalty awarded after a VAR review.

IFAB say that a handball should be penalised if the position of the hand makes the “body unnaturally bigger and when that position is not the result of their body moving fairly as part of play.” That is not what happened.