Gary Neville and Ian Wright have heated exchange over ‘disgraceful’ England penalty decision

Gary Neville and Ian Wright had a frank exchange over the penalty decision awarded to England in their Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

Harry Kane stepped up and converted the penalty, scoring his third goal of the tournament.

Referee Felix Zwayer had initially waved play on after contact between Kane and Denzel Dumfries as the England captain took a shot at goal.

But VAR reviewed the decision and recommended the referee to check the monitor, after which he gave a spot kick.

Fans had mixed views on the incident, with some believing Zwayer’s original call should have stood without VAR intervention.

And on ITV, Neville made his feelings clear, describing it as a ‘disgraceful decision’.

He said: “As a defender, I think it’s an absolute disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace of a decision.

“To have that given against me as a penalty at any time, but particularly in a game of such importance… I was fuming with the penalty in the Denmark game, the handball – I was offended by that one.

“He goes in naturally, just to try and block the shot. It’s not a penalty for me, it’s nowhere near a penalty. I don’t think there were many England players appealing for it.

“But you take your luck – England played really well in the first half.

Wright then countered Neville’s point, arguing: “That was reckless from Dumfries for me.

“The way he’s challenged there.. Gary, that’s why he’s given it! It’s VAR. If that’s anywhere else on the pitch, you get a foul for it! One hundred per cent. Penalties are given for those.

“Look, his studs were up. Those are given as penalties now, even if we think it’s soft.”

Neville stated: “The problem is, we’re all going mad. We don’t know what a penalty is.

“We’ve conditioned ourselves in the game now where we think that’s reckless. In the box, there’s a little bit of licence for a defender to go in, with honesty, and block a shot. There’s got to be a bit of licence, or else you’d never block a shot.”

There were also differing opinions on commentary, with Arsenal legend Lee Dixon expressing his surprise when the penalty kick was given.

But Kane gleefully accepted the decision and put the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving Brighton and Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with little chance of keeping it out.

The England captain is the Three Lions’ top goalscorer at Euro 2024, ahead of midfielder Jude Bellingham who is on two for the tournament.