Germany fans have launched a petition for their Euro 2024 quarter-final to be replayed.
Julian Naglesmann’s side crashed out of their home Euros at the hands of Spain on Friday. Spain progressed thanks to an 119th minute winner from Mikel Merino – who powered home an unmarked header to send Spain wild.
However, the Germans believed they should have been awarded a penalty before Merino struck gold for the Spanish. Jamal Musiala’s shot hit the hand of Marc Cucurella earlier in extra-time – and Premier League referee Anthony Taylor waved play on despite the appeals of the host nation’s supporters.
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Many fans watching the game were baffled by the decision – with some even saying international teams should boycott English referees. And now a petition has now been launched online by German fans – with a goal of reaching 500,00 signatures, and it has already reached 350,000.
However, the officials were correct in their rule due to the new UEFA guidelines. As per ESPN: “UEFA’s pre-tournament briefing on handballs gave a specific example just like Marc Cucurella, saying it should NOT be a handball penalty.
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“Arm close to the side, pointing predominantly down/vertically, and/or a position behind line of the body.
“It differs from the penalty Joachim Andersen conceded against Germany. UEFA deems that arm position to be unnatural and creating a barrier. Understandable fans would think the two decisions are the wrong way around… But they aren’t per intended interpretation.”
Nagelsmann called the rule to be changed. He told reporters: “There is a rule and I hope there is no wrong decision. They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated.
“For me the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this [handball] rule is assessed. I say this for football [in general] not today. You look at the hand, if it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”