UEFA announce huge referee error was made during Euro 2024 that could have changed the entire tournament
A statement from UEFA have confirmed that there was one massive referring mistake at Euro 2024 that could have changed everything.
It has now been two months since the end of the eventful 2024 European Championships which saw Spain lift the trophy after winning all of their matches at the tournament.
The tournament resulted in further disappointment for England fans as, for the second consecutive European tournament, they fell at the last hurdle by losing in the final of the competition.
But now, UEFA have revealed that there was a massive error made by a referee during Euro 2024 which, had the correct call been made, it could have completely changed the outcome of the tournament.
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A statement from the the UEFA Referees Committee has confirmed that Germany should have been awarded a penalty against Spain in their Euro 2024 quarter-final.
The hosts were knocked out of the tournament after Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino scored the winning goal in the last minute of extra time, taking the scoreline to 2-1.
But during the second half while the score remained 1-1 a shot Jamal Musiala was blocked by the outreached arm of defender Marc Cucurella but, despite the use of VAR, no penalty was awarded.
A now, the statement confirms that this was a mistake and Germany should have been awarded a penalty, and a chance to take the lead, for the incident.
It reads: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly, and in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or in contact with the body. In this case [Cucurella], the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making himself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”
Had Germany been given and scored the penalty, it is very possible that they would have won the match and progressed to the semi-final where they would have faced France.
Furthermore, if Germany beat Spain, they would have almost certainly been the favourites to go on and win the entire tournament.
That being said, it is likely that England and Gareth Southgate would have preferred to face the hosts in the final rather than the formidable Spanish side , meaning that if Germany had been correctly, awarded the penalty it would have potentially increased the Three Lions' chance of winning their first international silverware in 58 years.
Ben McCrum