UEFA acknowledges Referee error in Spain vs Germany Euro 2024 quarterfinal

UEFA has admitted a crucial error in Spain’s Euro 2024 quarterfinal victory over Germany, a decision that could have significantly impacted the outcome of the match.

The controversy centers around a non-awarded penalty for Germany during the 107th minute of extra time when Jamal Musiala’s shot was blocked by Marc Cucurella’s arm.

In a match that lived up to its billing as an exciting, end-to-end contest, Spain eventually triumphed 2-1, with Mikel Merino’s header sealing the win in extra time.

However, before Merino’s decisive goal, the German camp and fans were left fuming when referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Cucurella’s arm was in a “natural position” during the block, allowing play to continue without a penalty.

After a thorough assessment, the UEFA Referee Committee has acknowledged that this was a mistake. The committee stated that Cucurella’s arm was not sufficiently close to his body, thereby making him “bigger” and gaining an unfair advantage by stopping the shot. According to UEFA’s updated guidelines, such handball incidents should typically result in a penalty kick.

In their statement, UEFA clarified: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly, and in most cases, a penalty kick should be awarded unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or in contact with the body.”

Spain went on to win the tournament, defeating France in the semifinals and England in the final, sparking debates about how the match against Germany could have turned out had the penalty been awarded. The decision has also fueled calls from some fans for a replay, though UEFA has yet to respond to such petitions.