Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has hit out at 'English' referee Anthony Taylor for disallowing what he believed was a 'fair goal' against World Cup finalists France in Friday night's Euro 2024 Group D clash. It's safe to say the pair have not always seen eye-to-eye in the Premier League, and there was certainly no love lost on the international stage last night.
Friday night's VAR controversy was the first of its kind at Euro 2024, involving Premier League referees Anthony Taylor, who was officiating last night's game, and Stuart Atwell, who was in charge of VAR. It's hardly a coincidence is it?
Last night's match was billed as one of the more entertaining fixtures, however it didn't exactly live up to expectations. France dominated much of the possession throughout the game but without their talisman Kylian Mbappé, who spent the match on the bench after breaking his nose against Austria on Monday night, the French lacked a clinical edge in their attack.
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English Referee Criticised by BBC Panel After Contentious Disallowed Goal
The main talking point from the match between the Netherlands and France, however, came midway through the second half when it looked as if Dutch midfield wonder-kid Xavi Simons had opened the scoring. A shot from Memphis Depay was saved by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan down to his right, before the ball fell to Simons who powered the ball into the other corner.
Dutch celebrations were cut short when there was a delayed raising of the offside flag from the assistant referee, much to the disbelief of the players and Dutch fans. Denzel Dumfries had strayed into an offside position and was judged to have interfered with Maignan's ability to dive for the save.
🇳🇱 0-0 🇫🇷
Xavi Simons puts the ball into the French net but the goal has been ruled out after a lengthy VAR review #Euro2024 #NEDFRA
📺 Watch @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer
https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Updates https://t.co/f6XszbtpQs pic.twitter.com/5lStDZGOyR— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 21, 2024
After a lenghty consultation by Stuart Atwell in the VAR room, Anthony Taylor's on-field decision was upheld, and Simons' goal was disallowed.
Wayne Rooney was particularly critical of Taylor's decision to disallow the goal, stating:
"There's no way that should be disallowed, in my opinion. I think it's a goal. It's frustrating, the amount of time it took."
Cesc Fabregas echoed the former Manchester United Striker's sentiments:
"I think we have to question a little bit the referee and VAR here."
Van Dijk Singled Out 'English' Referee After Controversial Netherlands Decision
Speaking after last night's game, Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was critical of the refereeing performance of Anthony Taylor, as he believed Simons' goal should have stood, or at least should have been checked at the on-screen monitor. In Van Dijk's opinion, and many others, Mike Maignan was not significantly impeded by Dumfries in the offside position and he was never in a position to save the effort.
"We scored a goal that is a fair goal. He [Maignan] had no chance to get into that corner. But yeah the English referee decided to disallow it"
This is Virgil van Dijk on 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 disallowed Dutch goal 🗣️#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/7c3BrCWvfX
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 21, 2024
It certainly seemed pointed from the Liverpool defender to mention the nationality of the officials on duty in Leipzig.
Given that Maignan makes no attempt to dive for the save, his claims he was impeded in the build-up by Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries lack credibility. Furthermore, the lengthy VAR decision process infuriated viewers at home and in the stadium, and is an outlier considering the refereeing standard across the rest of the tournament.
❌Absolutely surreal decision by Anthony Taylor and his assistant in the Netherlands' disallowed goal against France.
Maignan only sees Dumfries once the ball is past him, at which point he has no chance of saving the ball, there is NO impact on his ability to save the ball. pic.twitter.com/Fx2hjzPidB— Football Offsides (@FutOffsides) June 21, 2024
Stuart Atwell's decision not to refer Taylor for an on-field review is also a point of controversy, baffling many social media users, as well as the Netherlands players on the pitch at the time.
VAR has been flawless and so quick that it's not been a hinderance on any game this tournament...right up until the one with Anthony Taylor, Stuart Atwell and the rest of the gang officiating it
— barry (@BackseatsmanLFC) June 21, 2024
We're sure that it's just a coincidence that the only game at Euro 2024 to have any VAR drama was officiated by two of the Premier League's finest... right?
SEE ALSO: Wayne Rooney Surprised By VAR Process For Contentious Disallowed Dutch Goal
