News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/8th July 2024
Spain emerged victorious over Germany with a 2-1 scoreline after extra time in a highly contested UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final match held in Stuttgart. The game, officiated by Premier League referee Anthony Taylor, has sparked significant controversy due to a contentious refereeing decision that has left German fans and players aggrieved.
The match saw Dani Olmo open the scoring for Spain early in the second half, only for Germany’s Florian Wirtz to dramatically equalize in the 89th minute, sending the game into extra time. The pivotal moment came in the 119th minute when Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal, securing Spain’s spot in the semi-finals.
However, the most controversial incident occurred earlier in extra time when Marc Cucurella’s hand appeared to block a shot from Germany’s Jamal Musiala inside the penalty area. Despite strong appeals from the German camp, including players and fans, referee Anthony Taylor opted not to award a penalty. His decision was supported by the VAR team, who did not advise a review of the incident.
The contentious call led to widespread criticism and prompted over 30,000 fans to sign a petition urging UEFA to order a replay of the match. The petition argues that the missed penalty could have significantly altered the outcome in Germany’s favor. Despite the outcry, UEFA is unlikely to act on the petition, and Spain is now set to face France in the semi-finals.
ESPN editor Dale Johnson defended Taylor’s decision, citing UEFA’s guidelines on handballs, which specify that a handball should not be awarded if the arm is close to the body and not in an unnatural position. This interpretation contrasts with a penalty awarded earlier in the tournament against Denmark’s Joachim Andersen for a perceived unnatural handball.
Anthony Taylor, a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA-listed official since 2013, has faced criticism before for alleged bias, though UEFA has not indicated any plans to review his performance in this instance.
Looking ahead, Spain remains the only team to have won all their matches, including those that went into extra time, in Euro 2024 so far. Their upcoming semi-final clash against France promises to be a thrilling encounter, with the winner advancing to face either England or the Netherlands in the tournament final on July 14th.
As the controversy simmers, football fans eagerly await the outcome of the remaining Euro 2024 matches, where on-field drama and passionate debates continue to define this prestigious continental competition.
