Did England deserve to be awarded a penalty?
England dominated proceedings in the first half of their Euros clash against Norway on Monday night, but fans were divided over whether Sarina Wiegman’s side should’ve been awarded a penalty.
The Lionesses ran riot in the opening 10 minutes and were awarded a penalty when Ellen White turned Maria Thorisdottir, only to be brought down by the Norway defender.
Georgia Stanway converted the resulting penalty, smashing her strike beyond the dive of Guro Pettersen.
However, the decision to award the home nation a penalty was met with controversy on social media, with some fans insisting that the Manchester City forward had dived, while some claimed that it was a clear penalty.
How did social media react?
One Twitter user wrote: “If this penalty was given AGAINST @England @Lionesses there would be uproar”.
If this penalty was given AGAINST @England @Lionesses there would be uproar 🤔🤔🤔
— Gary Owens (@garyowens00) July 11, 2022
A second added: “Embarrasing stuff, no VAR for the England penalty diving team..?”
Embarrasing stuff, no VAR for the England penalty diving team..? 👀🤷♂️👩🦯 #ENGNOR #EURO2022
— Willonfire🔥| ♻️💚⚛🦈 (@IFNScouting) July 11, 2022
A third said: “I obviously want England to win, but how was that clear dive a penalty”.
I obviously want England to win, but how was that clear dive a penalty 😂 #ENGNOR #EURO2022
— Bobby Moore (@Roberto185) July 11, 2022
A fourth wrote: “England goal was definitely coming soon but that awful penalty call completely shifted the mood”.
England goal was definitely coming soon but that awful penalty call completely shifted the mood
— Alex Ibaceta (@alexibaceta23) July 11, 2022
Another added: “Shock news, an England team awarded a penalty when the centre forward dives in the box.”
Shock news, an England team awarded a penalty when the centre forward dives in the box.
— (@Sp1guruDavid) July 11, 2022
However, some people believe that the referee was right to award Wiegman’s side a spot-kick.
One user wrote: “Whilst yes White dived, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a penalty. She was held and pulled back in the box. It was a foul. She dived as she knew that was the only way to get the decision.”
https://twitter.com/kerntallett/status/1546579935904645122
A second added: “tbf, that was a penalty. Soft, but it was a foul in the box. I still can’t believe she was on, but it was def a goal. poor Norway.”
tbf, that was a penalty. Soft, but it was a foul in the box. I still can't believe she was on, but it was def a goal. poor Norway.
— Michelle Irene (@miv5014) July 11, 2022
A third said: “Re #ThePenalty I thought that after the first instalment, which involved a bit of tugging, White had her foot stamped upon, and to me it was a clear penalty.”
Re #ThePenalty I thought that after the first installment, which involved a bit of tugging, White had her foot stamped upon, and to me it was a clear penalty.
— Stelios J (@Tsaksonakis) July 11, 2022
Following the controversial penalty incident, England began to stamp their authority on the match, racing into a 6-0 lead at the half time break thanks to goals from Stanway and Lauren Hemp, and braces from White and Beth Mead.
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