It was a ‘Big Mistake' - Schmeichel blasts penalty decision

The erstwhile Denmark goalie Peter Schmeichel who is also the father to the current goalkeeper of the Danes – Kasper Schmeichel, has blasted the penalty decision which led to England’s semi-final win against Denmark.

With the last-four clash locked at 1-1 in the first period of extra-time, Raheem Sterling was adjudged to have been fouled in the box, which gave the Tottenham Hotspurs striker the spot-kick opportunity which was saved by Kasper Schmeichel but a rebound from England’s captain was enough to seal the deal for the Three Lions.

The decision by referee Danny Makkelie was the source of plenty of debate, with Peter Schmeichel, who covered the game as a pundit for beIN Sports, insisting the official got it wrong.

“He made a really big mistake on the penalty and this will be debated for a long, long time. It's a hard one to take because it's not a penalty,” 

“I would have been much more relaxed and acceptable if they had scored one of the many chances that they created but unfortunately the referee made a big mistake in my opinion.

“I know in your opinion and everyone's opinion, my phone has not stopped going off, everyone else is saying it's not a penalty so I'm quite sure that I'm right in saying that,” said the former Manchester United keeper, who won the Euros with Denmark in 1992.

The ITV pundits were divided over the decision.

“I don’t think it’s a penalty. We have looked back, it was unlikely when it went to VAR that you would say it’s a clear and obvious mistake.

“Sterling got stronger as the game went on. When you’ve got people who can go past people it just opens the game up. I think it's very very soft.” Roy Keane said: 

Gary Neville added: “If we’re being fair, you’d be absolutely devastated to lose to a penalty like that, it’s so soft. 

“But they have been consistent in this tournament at being very reluctant to overturn these types of decisions.”

Ian Wright on his part said:

“We can say it’s soft but we’ve seen those being given all season.

“A little clip, a little touch, you heard Raheem there saying he felt like he got touched and went down.

“The fact is if we haven’t seen these all season, you can say it’s soft, but they have been given all season.”