Felix Zwayer’s Euro 2024 Blunders Spark Outrage: "He Needs to be Blacklisted"
Felix Zwayer’s controversial officiating in the Netherlands’ defeat to England at Euro 2024 has sparked outrage among fans and pundits alike. The German referee’s decisions, particularly in the second half, have been heavily criticized for their impact on the game.
A Shocking Display
The Dutch, who were bidding to reach their first European Championship semi-final since 2004, were eliminated from the tournament following a 2-1 defeat to the Three Lions. The match was marked by controversy, with Zwayer’s officiating at the center of attention.
Xavi Simons opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike, but England levelled through Harry Kane’s penalty, which was awarded after a VAR review. The goal sparked a fiery reaction from Virgil van Dijk, who accused Zwayer of bias in his post-match interview.
The Verdict
Pierre van Hooijdonk, a former Dutch international, has gone one step further, calling for Zwayer to be "blacklisted" following his officiating in the match. The ex-striker believes the referee’s decisions had a significant impact on the game, particularly in the second half.
"Those are moments that were crucial in this match," van Hooijdonk said. "Terrible. Also, in the second half. A duel with Cody Gakpo where he simply blew his whistle again, ten meters from the linesman."
Van Dijk’s Fury
Van Dijk was also left seething after the match, claiming that Zwayer had shown no respect to the Dutch players. The Liverpool defender said he was denied the chance to shake hands with the referee after the final whistle.
"I said it outside to our Dutch media, it says it all that the ref went in quite quickly after the game and we had no time to shake his hand," he said. "They keep changing so many things, small changes that could have big impacts. Let them come here and explain themselves, like we have to do when we do something wrong."
The Impact on the Tournament
England’s win sets up a mouth-watering clash with Spain in Sunday’s final, but the controversy surrounding Zwayer’s officiating threatens to overshadow the excitement of the tournament.
As the debate continues to rage on, one thing is certain – the spotlight will be on Zwayer when he takes charge of his next match. The pressure is mounting, and his performance will be closely monitored by fans and pundits alike.
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