A recent review of officiating decisions at the European Championship has sparked controversy, with a key call in the quarterfinal match between Germany and Spain coming under scrutiny. In a post-tournament analysis, referees’ officials concluded that a penalty should have been awarded to Germany when a shot by Jamal Musiala hit the arm of Spain’s Marc Cucurella during extra time.
The game was tied 1-1 at the time, and German players were outraged when referee Anthony Taylor failed to call a penalty. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) supported Taylor’s decision, but the review suggests that the call was incorrect. Spain went on to win the match 2-1 in the 119th minute and eventually lifted the trophy.
Prior to the tournament, referees were instructed to be lenient on handball calls when a defender’s arm was close to their body. However, in this instance, officials determined that Cucurella’s arm was not close enough to his body to warrant leniency. The review emphasized that any hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be penalized, unless the defender’s arm is very close to or on their body. In this case, the defender’s arm made himself bigger, blocking the shot, and a penalty kick should have been awarded.
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