Virgil van Dijk has launched a tirade against referee Felix Zwayer after England booked their place in the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions have advanced to the final two rounds, where they will face Spain on Sunday as they bid to lift their first European Championship three years after losing in the Euro 2020 final.
After scoring a great goal from Xavi Simons, Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot after a controversial decision that involved a VAR review and was criticised by pundits and fans.
Then, on the stroke of time, Ollie Watkins scored from the bench to send England into Sunday’s final, but that goal was not without controversy either, with the Netherlands believing they should have been awarded a corner in the build-up to the match.
After the match, captain Van Dijk criticised Zwayer for his performance, suggesting that his actions during the match told the story of how he performed.
Virgil van Dijk (left) has called for officials to be held accountable following the Netherlands’ elimination from Euro 2024
The Dutch captain criticised referee Felix Zwayer for his performance in the semi-final clash with England
The Netherlands were eliminated from the competition at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday evening.
“I don’t know if I should say anything about it,” he told beIN Sports. “I said it to the Dutch media. I think it says it all that the referee came in quite quickly after the game.”
‘I didn’t have time to shake his hand. But it is what it is, the game is decided, we lost, at times it was obvious that things should have gone our way, but they didn’t, whatever the result.
‘It’s hard to accept. It’s been a tough year. We had a big dream and we felt like we could have achieved it.
‘They keep changing certain things, small changes that could have a big impact. Maybe it’s good that they can be held accountable too.
‘They didn’t come here to talk to you and explain how we should do it when we do something wrong.
“It may be something, but I must not talk about others and we have to look at ourselves.”
Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have fouled Kane after the Three Lions captain blasted a shot over the bar, with Gary Neville branding the decision “a disgrace” on public broadcaster ITV.
Jamie Carragher also criticised the decision on social media, while fans suggested the referee was wrong, even though it benefited England.
Van Dijk was booked for protesting a late decision that resulted in England’s winning goal.
England also received a controversial penalty in the first half for a foul on Harry Kane.
Later in the game, when Stones headed wide, the Netherlands thought they had a corner, but the referee signalled a goal kick, leading to Watkins’ goal.
Van Dijk was booked for his protests and the defender was visibly emotional at the end of the match.
