Sports

Schmeichel told the referee a laser was being pointed at him before Kane penalty

Published

3 years ago

July 10, 2021

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has revealed he told the referee that a laser was being pointed at him before Harry Kane’s penalty in the Euro 2020 semi-final..

The Dane, who also plays for Leicester City, saved the England captain’s penalty before the striker scored the rebound.

However, an investigation was later opened after pictures emerged showing a fan shining a laser near Schemeichel’s eyes before the penalty.

An unmistakable green beam flickered across the Denmark keeper’s head as the England captain was lining up to take his shot and it appeared to hit one of Schmeichel’s eyes briefly.

Security teams are understood to be combing footage from inside the grounds to try and identify the culprit.

The goalkeeper has now revealed he told the referee about the laser before the penalty: ‘I did not experience it on the penalty kick because it was behind me on my right side. But I did experience it in the second half.

‘I told the referee. And he went to say something to the other officials.’

The European sports group – who yesterday morning hit England with three disciplinary charges – are currently investigating the circumstances and will ask for Danish keeper’s thoughts on what happened.

But MailOnline has been told the Metropolitan Police, whose force area covers Wembley Stadium, may still launch a criminal probe.

UEFA are the only authority currently investigating the circumstances, but if they find any suggestion of an offence they will inform officers.

The evidence will then be assessed and a decision taken by the police on whether it will start their own probe.

UEFA are also investigating Three Lions supporters booing during Denmark’s national anthem and setting off fireworks or flares during the Euro 2020 semi-final.

The triple-whammy allegations will be investigated by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body and are the first time a team in this tournament a team has been charged over fans booing rivals anthems.

Punishments include fines of up to £8,000 and official warnings.

England has been fined £4,300 before for supporters disrupting another side’s national song.

The laser is the most serious issue, however.

The torch-style gadgets have been a problem at sporting events for some time – affecting Wayne Rooney and Jose Mourinho – but in recent years have been rarely seen at football matches.

There is a law relating to them being used to endanger vehicles but would not cover individuals.

It may be the offence would fall under an assault category.

In the UK people have been jailed for as long as 32 months for shining the lights at aircraft.

Only last year a man was jailed for four months for shining a laser pen into an aircraft.

Alexandru Gheorghe, 28, from Redditch, Worcestershire, dazzled the occupants of a police air service helicopter as it flew overheard with one of the devices..

He had used a £7 laser pen he had bought off eBay as it was flying over Stratford on its way back to its base.

And in 2019 a father-of-three went to prison for shining a £5 laser pen at a jet, endangering the lives of 180 holidaymakers on board.

Michael Bisgrove, 54, dazzled the pilot on the Beoing 737 at 2,500ft as they returned to Cardiff Airport from the Canary Islands.

A court heard how the light shone through the cockpits window, into the eyes of Captain Robin Small and the TUI crew for about a minute.

When a South Wales Police helicopter was sent to search for Bisgrove, he shone the laser into the eyes of the three officers on board as they hovered at 1,000 ft. He was jailed for 32 months.

In 2010 in America a man was jailed for three years for dazzling a sheriff and being charged with second-degree assault.

The Football Association has previously launched an investigation into fans using the pointers, with one probe launching when Wayne Rooney was targeted in 2015.

A Met spokesman told MailOnline: ‘At the moment it’s being dealt with by UEFA rather than the police.

‘It may be that if they deem it a criminal offence they would let us know and we would look at it, if appropriate.’

Supporters urged the police to get involved and investigate online.

Twitter user Tim said: ‘Whoever used the laser pointer does deserve a lifetime ban and a police caution.

‘As he saved the penalty he was thankfully unaware and unharmed.’

Tom added: ‘Those behind the lasers need to be identified and charged by the police.’

A spokesperson for the Met Police said they were looking at whether it was something they would investigate but did not know whether it had been officially reported to the force.

Jimmy added: ‘Whoever shone that laser pen at Schmeichel .

‘Should be done by the police.

‘A green laser pen was shone on his face during the penalty.’