Marc Cucurella's undecided handball against Germany sparks controversy at Euro 2024

The refereeing of the English Anthony Taylor at the start of the quarter-finals of the Euro Cup Germany 2024 left him in the spotlight for a series of controversial decisions among which stood out a handball inside the area that could have changed the course of the game. Spain’s victory over Germany (2-1).

The play in question involved Spanish defender Marc Cucurella at the start of the second half of extra time. German winger Jamal Musiala fired a shot from the edge of the area that was met by the La Roja player’s hand.

The German team asked for a penalty, but the main referee did not even flinch and allowed play to continue. The most striking thing about the situation is that at no time was there a review of the play taking into account the different technologies that they have at their disposal to clarify the play.

“I was in a natural position. The referee saw everything very quickly, he had no doubts and it was better for us.”commented the Spanish defender after the match, who has established himself in La Roja’s defence in this competition in which they are already among the best four.

If the penalty had been awarded, things could have changed for the German national team, who at that moment were putting everything on Spain, inspired by the goal scored by Florian Wirtz (m.89) that served to equalize the game at the end of regulation time.

But the penalty that was not awarded in Germany’s favour was not the only controversial decision made by English referee Anthony Taylor on Friday. At the start of the match he was very lenient with one of Germany’s great stars, Toni Kroos, who should have been cautioned.

In two separate plays, the German midfielder, who will end his career after this competition, committed harsh fouls on both Pedri and Lamine Yamal that went unnoticed by the referee, who ended up cautioning Kroos in the 67th minute for another harsh foul.

The most curious thing about the controversial performance of the Englishman Anthony Taylor is that during extra time he ended up giving several Spanish and German players who were already on the bench a yellow card for making various complaints.

But beyond the referee’s poor decisions, the Spanish and German teams put on a show worthy of a Euro Cup final.

Keep reading:
– Jude Bellingham fined and sanctioned for gesture towards Slovakia bench at Euro 2024 but will be able to play in the quarter-finals
– Lamine Yamal: What is the daily life of the new young jewel of the Spanish National Team and the Euro Cup Germany 2024?
– Toni Kroos responds to Joselu: “They want to win the Euros. I will do everything possible to prevent that from happening”