UEFA admit to colossal mistake which cost Germany a EURO 2024 triumph | OneFootball

Look away now, Germany fans.

Die Mannschaft’s home European Championship ended in defeat to Spain this summer with Julian Nagelsmann’s side losing to the eventual winners in a thrilling quarter-final clash.

But it could have been so different.

With the match tied at 1-1, Marc Cucurella seemingly handled Jamal Musiala’s shot inside the area with the home side convinced it was a penalty.

Referee Anthony Taylor and VAR man Stuart Atwell said no however, with Spain eventually going on to win the match thanks to Mikel Merino’s header in extra time.

Now though, over two months’ after the incident, the UEFA Referees’ Committee has conceded that a penalty should have been given.

In a statement on Monday, they said: “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.”

What might have been for Nagelsmann and his men.