UEFA has acknowledged a major refereeing error during Euro 2024 that might have changed the tournament’s outcome.
Two months after Spain secured the championship, winning all their matches, England fans are disappointed as their team lost in the final for the second time in a row.
UEFA revealed that a crucial mistake occurred in the quarter-final match between Germany and Spain, where Germany should have received a penalty. Spain eliminated Germany after Mikel Merino scored in the dying moments of extra time, finalizing the match at 2-1.
In the second half, with the score at 1-1, a shot from Jamal Musiala struck Marc Cucurella’s outstretched arm, yet VAR did not award a penalty. UEFA’s statement confirmed this was a mistake, asserting that Germany should have been given the chance to take the lead from the spot.
The statement elaborated that under UEFA guidelines, any hand-to-ball contact that prevents a goal attempt should result in a penalty unless the defender’s arm is close to their body. Cucurella’s arm was not in that position, warranting a penalty.
Had Germany converted the penalty, they might have won and progressed to face France in the semi-finals, potentially altering the tournament’s dynamics. This outcome could also have affected England, as Gareth Southgate’s team might have preferred to confront the hosts rather than the strong Spanish side in the final. Thus, the correct penalty decision could have significantly improved England’s chances of securing their first international trophy in 58 years.
