UEFA says that wasn’t handball in Germany’s EURO 2024 loss to Spain

UEFA explains why Marc Cucurella’s contact with Jamal Musiala’s shot in extra time was correctly judged.

Euro 2024: Spain - GermanyPhoto by Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images

Germany’s 2-1 loss to Spain in the EURO 2024 quarterfinals featured a controversial decision to not call a handball after a Jamal Musiala strike in extra time hit the hand of Marc Cucurella in the Spanish box.

According to UEFA, the decision was the right one. Via @iMiaSanMia:

UEFA declared Anthony Taylor’s decision to be correct because “Cucurella’s hand was not in an unnatural position at the time it was hit by the ball”. This is what the referee guidelines, issued before the tournament, state

In a meeting on 12 June, UEFA referee chief Roberto Rossetti gave a number of examples that justify and do not justify a penalty. In an example most similar to the Cucurella handball, Rosetti said there should be no penalty

That means if a defender is hit by the ball with his arm close to his body and in an almost vertical position, there’s no penalty. In comparison, the penalty given to Germany against Denmark was different. According to UEFA guidelines, the difference lies in the position of the defender’s hand. Joachim Andersen’s hand “unnaturally enlarged his body” in that situation

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Cucurella for his part was pleased.

“The ball hit my hand, but the referee immediately said no, no, no, and that made me feel better,” the Chelsea FC defender said after the match (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “If the refereeing experts say it’s not a handball, then it’s not a handball.”

German players and coaches were less than thrilled by the decision. It was compounded perhaps by their confusion at referee Anthony Taylor, who in response to the immediate shouts for handball gestured that he felt Cucurella’s arms were close to his body — a different interpretation that what seems to be the correct explanation for the call, which is that the position, despite being away from the body, was not “unnatural”.

Julian Nagelsmann’s assistant coach Sandro Wagner was captured taking it out on the referee after the match in what is perhaps not the best look for a national team coach: