VAR who gave England penalty against Denmark back on duty for Euro 2020 final against Italy
THE VAR official who allowed England’s penalty against Denmark to be awarded is back on duty for the Euro 2020 final with Italy.
The Three Lions advanced to their first major tournament final since 1966 after Harry Kane’s extra-time winner sealed a 2-1 win over the Danes.
The England captain slotted home the rebound from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had initially saved his penalty.
The spot-kick itself drew controversy over the amount of contact involved from Joakim Maehle that saw Raheem Sterling hit the deck.
Yet VAR official Pol Van Boekel saw no reason to overturn Danny Makkelie’s on-field decision that England used to claim a historic win.
And the Dutchman will also be involved on Sunday for the final against Italy to assist German ref Bastian Dankert with the technology.
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UEFA did announce that Van Boekel’s compatriot Bjorn Kuipers will be the man in the middle for the Wembley showpiece event.
Yet it will be the referee working on VAR who will be under scrutiny with reaction to the penalty decision heavily criticised across Europe.
Top selling Italian sports paper Gazzetta Dello Sport hinted at a conspiracy theory over Sterling being awarded a spot-kick.
They suggested England had been given help in return for Boris Johnson’s vocal opposition to the failed European Super League.
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Antonio Conte is also a columnist for the paper and taunted England by saying four-time world champs Italy ‘know what it means to play in a final’.
Meanwhile, bitter Spanish TV presenters slammed Euro 2020 as ‘shameful’ and conditioned for England to win’ in a blazing meltdown.
And one journalist even claimed Wembley should not have hosted any matches… due to Brexit.