UEFA has confirmed a significant refereeing error during Euro 2024 that could have altered the tournament’s outcome.
It has been two months since Spain claimed the championship, winning all their matches in a thrilling European Championships. Unfortunately for England fans, the team again fell short in the final for the second consecutive tournament.
Now, UEFA has disclosed that a critical mistake occurred when Germany should have received a penalty against Spain in their quarter-final match. The hosts were eliminated after Mikel Merino scored in the final moments of extra time, ending the game 2-1.
During the second half, while the score was tied at 1-1, Jamal Musiala’s shot was deflected by Marc Cucurella’s outstretched arm, but VAR did not award a penalty. UEFA’s statement confirms this was an error, stating that Germany should have had the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty.
The statement explains: “According to the latest UEFA guidelines, any hand-to-ball contact that prevents a shot on goal should be penalized more stringently, typically resulting in a penalty unless the defender’s arm is close to their body. In Cucurella’s case, he used his arm to block the shot, which was not positioned close to his body, so a penalty should have been given.”
If Germany had converted the penalty, they might have won the match and advanced to the semi-finals against France. Additionally, if they had defeated Spain, they would likely have been favored to win the tournament.
This situation could have impacted England’s prospects as well, as Gareth Southgate’s team might have preferred to face the hosts in the final rather than a strong Spanish side. Thus, had the penalty been awarded correctly, it could have enhanced England’s chances of winning their first international trophy in 58 years.
