People are calling for England vs Italy final to be replayed

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By stefan armitage

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Following England's loss to Italy in the Euros 2020 final last night, many people are calling for the match to be replayed.

Last night's European Championship final at Wembley was certainly one that kept both nations on the edge of their seats.

By the end of extra time, both teams had scored one apiece, meaning it would all come down to penalties. However, when all was said and done, it was Italy who remained victorious - snatching a 3-2 win in the shootout.

The victory meant Italy had extended their unbeaten streak to an incredible 34 matches - but England fans aren't impressed with how they won last night.

Over the course of the heated game, Italy amassed five yellow cards against England's one, and was hit with 21 fouls - eight more than England.

One of the most controversial moments in the game saw Italy's Giorgio Chiellini pull England's 19-year-old Bukayo Saka to the ground by the collar of his shirt - a moment that many viewers believe should have seen the Italian captain sent off.

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Credit: PA Images / Alamy

In response, a number of deflated England fans have taken to social media to call for the match to be replayed.

"Italy played dishonourably. I think a rematch should be in order. Then if Italy win a game of no shirt pulling and diving they will be seen in a more respected light," one Twitter user wrote.

Another added: "The referee was [an] Italy supporter so he was bias and now apparently pulling shirts is legal in football now. There should be a rematch."

"Honestly I feel like we deserve a rematch; when Italy should have been given red cards they were given yellow," another viewer wrote.

Some fans have even started online petitions calling for the match to be replayed:

One of the Change.org petitions reads: "All the pushes, pulls and kicks and Italy was still allowed to win? Definitely biased. Italy should have been given a red card for their gameplay and the rematch should happen with a non biased referee. This was not fair at all."

It has since amassed over 1,300 signatures as of this writing.

A second petition reads: "[Two] clear red cards should have been given to Italian players in the Euro 2020 match played July 11th 2021.

"Whether it will change who are actually crowned as champions or not, the fact the referee did not send two players from the Italian team off, followed by no VAR being reviewed, makes it a questionable independent referee."

I guess only time will tell...

Featured image credit: PA Images / Alamy