Euro 2020: Controversial penalty, arrests and fans booing Denmark’s national anthem overshadow England’s semi-final victory

England reached the final of the European Championship for the first time in history on Wednesday, with a 2-1 victory over Denmark in front of their enthusiastic home fans at Wembley Stadium. Gareth Southgate’s team was recognized as one of the most consistent sides of the tournament, and although their exit to the semi-finals was largely free of controversy, the same cannot be said about the game against Denmark.

Controversial penalty
England’s second goal came through captain Harry Kane turning the ball into the net after it rebounded off Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who saved the former’s penalty kick. The penalty came after Raheem Sterling was taken down inside the box and the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed the contact on the England winger enough to warrant a penalty.

However, neither the officials on the pitch, nor the VAR seem to have noticed the extra ball on the pitch as Sterling was beginning his drive into the box. Strangely enough, even the Denmark players didn’t seem to include that point when they were protesting the penalty.

Moreover, many questioned whether there was enough contact on Sterling for the penalty to be given. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his one-time arch-rival Jose Mourinho both seemed to agree that the penalty should not have been given. “It’s never a penalty. The best team won, England deserve to win. England was fantastic, but for me it’s never a penalty,” said Mourinho on TalkSport. “England was really, really good and no doubt they deserved to win that match. But, for me, it’s never a penalty. At this level, a semi-final of a Euro I don’t understand really the referee’s decision,” he said. Wenger said that VAR let the referee down. “Look in the moment like that I believe that the VAR I don’t understand why they don’t ask the referee to have a look at it. In a moment like that it’s important that the referee is absolutely convinced that it was a penalty. It was not clear enough to say ‘yes it is’. At least he should have looked on the screen. I don’t know why the VAR did not ask him to go. For me no penalty. I think the VAR has left the referee down,” he said on BeIN Sports.

Finally, Schmeichel seemed to have had green lasers shining on his face near his eyes while preparing to save the penalty kick.

Fans booing Denmark’s national anthem
Boos could be heard going around Wembley Stadium when Denmark’s national anthem was being played before the game. It was not the first time that England fans were booing the opposition’s national anthem, with the same being heard before their match against arch-rivals Germany.

Arrests after the game
London police said they made 20 arrests after fans gathered to celebrate England’s 2-1 win over Denmark in Wednesday’s Euro 2020 semi-final. Riot police were on hand as fans celebrated the country reaching their first major final since winning the 1966 World Cup. Traffic came to a standstill at Piccadilly Circus in central London when fans blocked streets and climbed on telephone boxes. “20 arrests have been made by officers for a number of offences including common assault, public order and assault on police,” Met Police said on Twitter.