Virgil van Dijk requested the query we have been all pondering after the Netherlands have been denied a aim of their conflict towards France, with the Premier League referees taking centre stage for all of the improper causes.
It got here as no shock that the primary farce involving VAR in Euro 2024 got here when English referees have been on the helm, with a choice over Xavi Simons’ aim taking an age.
Denzel Dumfries was stood in an offside place on the time of the strike and the linesman put his flag up, leaving Stuart Attwell to guage the choice as lead VAR.
It was a subjective name however took practically three minutes, properly over the common within the event to this point, and a sign of how Premier League referees are missing in comparison with others.
The aim didn’t stand, however through the decision-making course of, Van Dijk was visibly annoyed with the delay and he made that recognized to ESPN on Sunday.
“I stored asking questions. ‘What’s taking so lengthy?’ particularly,” Van Dijk recalled.
Van Dijk nao aguenta mais o Antony Taylor pic.twitter.com/ttGDtH9oU9
— Anfield Brasil (@Anfieldbr) June 21, 2024
“In all of the matches I’ve watched, every part has been taking place fairly shortly to this point. That’s why I requested that a couple of instances in a row.”
One thing we’ve got to look ahead to once more within the Premier League subsequent season – fortunate us!
The Netherlands captain can do little concerning the resolution now and is looking for to maneuver on forward of the ultimate group recreation towards Austria on Tuesday.
He added: “I’ve nothing extra to say about it. There was sufficient speak about it. Sadly, it didn’t depend and we’ve got to maneuver on.”
Whereas Van Dijk should transfer on, we don’t essentially should as his feedback shine a light-weight on the shortcomings of the officers we’ve got within the Premier League.
Semi-automated offside is arriving subsequent season and whereas that ought to velocity up choices, there’ll nonetheless be issues if that would be the case contemplating all we all know and have skilled.
There may be rising disillusionment with expertise within the recreation, however it’s right here to remain after Premier League golf equipment voted 19-1 to maintain VAR, although they insisted on enhancements.
If and after we see these enhancements stays to be seen, however this Euro efficiency didn’t instil a lot perception.
And let’s spare a thought for Van Dijk, who needed to expertise what he did all season with Liverpool along with his nation, simply when he thought he acquired away from them!
