UEFA has acknowledged a significant refereeing error that aided Spain in winning Euro 2024
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
In the quarterfinal match of Euro 2024 between Germany and Spain on July 5, a controversial incident unfolded. After a shot from Musiala, the ball struck Cucurella's arm in the penalty area, yet the referees chose not to award a penalty.
As a result, Spain managed to advance to the semifinals, scoring a goal in the 119th minute. Two and a half months later, UEFA issued a verdict regarding the match, which did not favor "La Furia Roja."
Details: According to Relevo, the publication accessed documents revealing that the referees made an error in this match, involving both the on-field officials and the VAR team.
Quote: "According to UEFA's latest recommendations, handball contact that prevents a shot on goal should be punished more severely, and in most cases, a penalty should be awarded, except when the defender's arm is very close to the body or above it.
In this instance, the defender stopped a shot on goal with an arm that was not very close to the body, making it larger, so a penalty should have been awarded," UEFA's explanation stated.
Reminder: Spain won the Euro 2024 Championship, defeating France (2-1) and England (2-1) in the semifinals. This marked their fourth European Championship title.
Additionally, the German national team has identified a potential future coach should Julian Nagelsmann decide to leave the team after the 2026 World Cup.
