UEFA has officially acknowledged a serious mistake during the recent European Championship, admitting that Spain’s Marc Cucurella should have been penalized for a handball in the quarterfinal match against Germany. The incident occurred during extra time in the 1-1 draw when Jamal Musiala’s shot struck Cucurella’s outstretched arm in the penalty area. However, referee Anthony Taylor and the VAR team ruled against awarding a penalty. UEFA’s refereeing committee has now confirmed that a penalty should have been given, which could have changed the course of the match.
🗣 Toni Kroos, after that UEFA Referees Committee has admitted that a penalty should have been awarded to Germany against Spain following Cucurella's handball:
"It took them three months to realise it was a handball, something that almost everyone saw in a second. Thank you, it… pic.twitter.com/BchFRIJs2Q
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 24, 2024
Back then the decision proved crucial, as Spain went on to score later in extra time, securing a 2-1 victory and eventually winning the tournament. UEFA’s admission of the error comes several months after the match, sparking reactions from players and fans alike.
German midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired immediately after the match, commented on UEFA’s delayed acknowledgment with his trademark sarcasm. “It took them three months to realise it was handball, which almost everyone actually managed to see in a second. That calms me down a lot. Can I now call myself European champion because they’ve officially confirmed it? I don’t think so.”
The decision remains a painful memory for Germany, who missed out on a potential opportunity to progress further in the tournament on home ground, while Spain went on to claim the title.