Laser light used on Denmark’s goalkeeper & second ball on the pitch adds to controversies during England vs Denmark match

England beat Denmark to advance into the Euro 2020 final.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand communicated his disappointment and implied that he simply could not comprehend how an important penalty was awarded against his team in their 2-1 loss to England in the Euro 2020 semifinals on Thursday.

Following a challenge in the area by Denmark defender Joakim Maehle, Raheem Sterling lost his balance and then fell to the ground under pressure by Mathias Jensen in the first half of extra time. A penalty was awarded to England and the decision stood following a video review. Harry Kane’s spot-kick was eventually saved but unfortunately for Demark, Kane tapped in the rebound for the winning goal. Sterling’s penalty however was tarnished by controversy and his alleged dive in the box was also far from being considered the only dodgy aspect of England’s penalty.

Advertisement

Replays of the live footage revealed that there was a second ball on the pitch. In fact, it was quite close to the sequence of play that resulted in the foul and eventual goal. Social media was in a frenzy with fans questioning whether this passage of play should have been halted.

An unidentified fan from the stands also tried to diminish Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s vision during the penalty itself. Replays of the spot-kick show a laser clearly being pointed towards the player’s eye as Kane was about to take his penalty. The Dane however did remarkably well to save the shot in those circumstances but was unfortunate as Kane tapped home the rebound.

The 2020/21 FIFA Laws of the Game officially state that if “an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must: stop play (and restart with a dropped ball) only if it interferes with play.”