Euro 2024 Review: Germany Deserved a Penalty Against Spain

A recent report from UEFA’s Referees’ Committee has revealed that Germany should have received a penalty for a handball incident during their quarterfinal match against Spain in Euro 2024.

This evaluation is part of UEFA’s ongoing efforts to provide guidance to match officials. The committee regularly reviews specific situations and offers recommendations on how such incidents should be handled.

During the match, which was tied at 1-1 at the conclusion of the first half of extra time, Jamal Musiala took a shot that struck Spaniard Marc Cucurella’s arm. Germany’s players reacted with frustration when referee Anthony Taylor chose not to award a penalty. They argued that Cucurella’s arm was positioned close to his body.

This decision was backed by the video assistant referee (VAR), Stuart Attwell. Ultimately, Spain triumphed in the match with a late goal from Mikel Merino in the 119th minute, securing their place in the final where they defeated England to lift the trophy.

In the lead-up to the tournament, Roberto Rosetti, the chief refereeing officer for UEFA, discussed criteria for evaluating handball situations, particularly when a shot is aimed at the goal and the defender’s arm is positioned close to their side.

Despite this prior guidance, the Referees’ Committee concluded in their report that Cucurella’s arm was not sufficiently close to his body during the incident. They emphasized that hand-to-ball contact that halts a shot on target ought to be penalized more strictly. The report stated that a penalty should typically be given unless the defender’s arm is very close to their body or is actually touching it.

The conclusion drawn by the committee was clear: in the situation in question, the defender prevented a shot on goal with an arm that was extended away from the body, effectively making it larger and more visible. Therefore, they determined that a penalty kick should have been awarded to Germany.