VAR Review: Harry Kane vs Denzel Dumfries! Was Kane’s penalty for England the correct call?
We’re analysing every VAR decision made throughout all 51 games at Euro 2024. On Wednesday, England were awarded a penalty against Netherlands for a challenge by Denzel Dumfries on Harry Kane. Why was it given, and was it the correct decision?
After each game, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of VAR protocol and the laws of the game.
Possible penalty: Dumfries challenge on Kane.
What happened: England were on the attack in the 14th minute with Harry Kane attempting a shot from a bouncing ball that was hit over the bar. He was caught by Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries after releasing the shot, and went down in pain. Referee Felix Zwayer pointed for a goal kick, but after a few moments it became clear the VAR was checking for a possible penalty.
VAR review: There’s an unwritten law in football that if a player manages to complete a shot on goal and is then caught by a defending player, there shouldn’t be a penalty. So why is that? Mainly it’s because the attacking team cannot lose out on anything because of the challenge — the shot has been released and the move is over.
It’s seems odd, because often in this situation we’d say “but that’s a foul anywhere else on the pitch.” But make no mistake, there’s another unwritten law that the threshold is far higher on a penalty providing a shot on goal vs. a free kick in an area that isn’t immediately dangerous.
It’s a very harsh intervention by the VAR, Bastian Dankert. It’s his ninth game of the tournament, far more than any other video assistant. He has clearly earned a reputation within UEFA as its most trusted VAR throughout the tournament.
So, why has Dankert advised a penalty? He has taken the nature of Dumfries’ challenge, leading with the studs as opposed to making an attempt to kick through the ball, as being reckless — which is why the Netherlands’ player was booked. And that’s the one area where a defender catching an attacker after a shot can be seeing as a penalty — when it’s reckless or dangerous.
Can you see why this might be a penalty? Yes. Does this reach UEFA’s high threshold for a clear and obvious error for a VAR intervention? No. You can only think Kane’s reaction, going down in pain, persuaded the VAR.
And in UEFA competition you will almost never see a VAR intervention rejected at the monitor by the referee.
28 Comments
This was a foul any way you look at it, a sole tackle with a straight leg. This can cause serious injury. When there is a foul like that inside the box the only option is a penalty as this will never warrant an indirect kick anywhere on the pitch. It is harsh but it's the rules and an experienced player should never do this.
The Spaniards doing it – rolling, rolling, rolling in agony. So, why not…
Studs up. Straight leg. Playing in a dangerous manner. (PIADM with) physical contact means a penal foul. Takes place in the penalty area means a penalty kick. I have no quarrel with the CR not calling a penalty initially. I have no quarrel with a VAR review that results in a penalty. One problem with VAR is that you will see slow motion reviews that when broken down and slowly analyzed will result in penalty kicks that a CR (and everyone else) would at first glance not consider a penalty. (The USA women's team was eliminated in the last Olympics this way…oddly no one cared from some reason).
The question is not if it is a penalty or not. The question is if the var has to intervene in such ocasions. The answer is simple and short “no”. If the referee would have given a penalty they also shouldn’t. So this is a clear mistake from the var. But thats what happens with smaller countries. Netherlands goal vs france cancelled, spain goal vs georgia allowed, handsball given to germany vs denmark, handsball not given germany spain.
Kane acted like he broke his leg.
Everyone forgets that the guy who shoots the ball at Kane and Dumfries made handball look good
England shouldn't be at the finals. Saka literally moves the ball with his left arm to a favourable position and then his girlfriend Kane kicks the ball and it's awarded with a penalty because he was screaming too loud. Aaaaaand the referee that was previously suspended for bribery gives the penalty. This is utterly outrageous! These misjudgements should not go unpunished.
The outcome of the game was settled before it started. No need to get emotional about it. It’s just the way it is and became. Not a handsbal and therefor penalty for Germany against spain……..😂😂😂😂😂😂 many more examples of fixed matches this tournament were shown.
Laughable and very corrupt, but that’s just the way it is.
So your argument are two „unwritten rules“? Very strong argument
SAKA CLEARLY HAD HIS HAND ON THE BALL
the centre of the problem is: do you want referees , who are just, maybe, allowed on the pitch to watch for verbal and sneaky abuse off-the-ball – and then ALL other decisions are made by cameras, angles and slo-mo replay? with no linesmen at all???
It's a modern World. Most people under 40 will favour technology – which will decide all off-sides, ball-on-the-line, handballs etc.
We're at a crossroads, where the concept of a human Ref is secondary. The only reason for a human , is, maybe it keeps the game flowing. However, in Tennis – technology already decides all the important issues.
In a short time – there REALLY will be no need for linesmen, at all.
What do fans and experts actually want??? It is obvious from the Penalty – that even humans with 5 TVs and 10 computers cannot come to a unchallengeable, perfect decision????
i have seen given in the premier league all the time
This was not a penalty, because the ball was already shot , when he touched his foot , harry kane was a theaterman
If it was a goal when Kane first shot, it would have been a goal. 100%.. that leads to shot was played and any foul after don't count as a foul. If u call a foul that means if it was a goal, then the goal would be disallowed 🚫. Which makes no sense. A goal is a goal unless the hand was used. Thank you 😂
He was blocking the shot and Kane shot and went through onto his stud… never a penalty
England play handball or football or diving
It was a clear penalty
Harry Kane is the best player in the world, of course this was a penalty, a dangerous one at that. The Dutchman should have been tossed from the game
Bullshit call
If they were unwritten rules then they are not rules
Pierluigi fumbled letting this guy ever do a match again.
It's an UNWRITTEN RULE !!!!!!!!! Any unwritten rule isn't worth the paper it's NOT written on.
Something about… a very bad, partial referee who was obviously in favor of England, a penalty wrongfully given to England and for the rest again a very partial referee who only blew his whistle in favor of England. Oh yeah and a very good actor, Kane, who was lying on the field like he had broken every bone in his body but when the penalty was taken just stood up like nothing happened.. For the rest of all the tournament, England played shite. Yes we were not on our our best either ( against Austria) but we showed a lot more than the English team. My English friends agree on all I just said. On Sunday we will be watching the game Spain-England. My heart says that I want England to win, just so my friends are happy and can have a party. My gut says that I want Spain to win, because in every game they were the best and they deserve the title most.
Late tackle that made contact. Penalty
SAKA hands the ball 5 seconds b4 the clash between Kane and Dumfriess so no penalty
No way a penalty
I am a fan of England but this is definitely NOT A PENALTY!! Kane is the best actor I have seen. He should win the Oscar!!
He went down like he’d been shot in the foot by a sniper. 😂🤣😂 Great ACTING! his actual football PATHETIC!!!!!!