Netherlands Star On Penalty In Inter Milan 1-2 Udinese Loss: ‘Hard One For Players & Referees, Defenders Need More Protection’ | OneFootball

Denzel Dumfries feels his handball penalty in Inter Milan’s loss to Udinese yesterday is “a hard one for players and referees.”

The Dutchman spoke to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews. He argued that “defenders need more protection” in handball situations.”

Denzel Dumfries was in the Inter Milan starting eleven for yesterday’s Serie A match against Udinese.

The 29-year-old played his part as the Nerazzurri got the match off to a bright start.

And it was Dumfries who gave Inter the reward for their high tempo first quarter of an hour. He scored the opener in the seventeenth minute.

Seeing Dumfries on the scoresheet has become a familiar sight for Inter. The Dutchman has become one of the Nerazzurri’s biggest goal threats by far.

However, Inter’s lead was not to last. And it was Dumfries who played the decisive role in it evaporating.

The former PSV wingback clumsily handled the ball inside his own penalty area.

This led to the spot kick from which Keinan Davis equalized for Udinese.

Denzel Dumfries: Penalty In Inter 1-2 Udinese “A Hard One For Players & Referees”

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 18: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Dumfries gave his view on the penalty incident. “Yes, the ball touched my hand,” he said. “But what could I have done?”

“I lost eye contact with the ball,” the Dutchman continued.

“But from my perspective, we both jumped to try and get to it. I touched the ball accidentally.”

“I can’t jump with my arms behind my back,” Dumfries said.

“We even had a meeting at the start of the season where they told us not to do that. That we could jump normally, with our hands in a natural position.”

Dumfries rued that “it’s not easy for us, or for the referee.”

“But in my opinion, when you touch the ball with your hand at the close of a range, it’s always a grey area. It’s difficult.”

“Now, with VAR, we as defenders try to defend and jump normally,” said Dumfries. “I jumped normally, I didn’t reach for the ball with my hand.”

“In my opinion, if I’m the defender and the defender touches the ball like that, I’m inclined to say that it’s a penalty,” the 29-year-old admitted.

“But it’s not easy for the players. Or for the referee.”

“For some it’s a penalty. For others, it’s not. At that distance, as I said, it’s very difficult to put your hands behind your back.”

“I think that we need more protection for the defenders,” he argued.