- Spain beat Germany 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2024
- The game in Stuttgart was officiated by Premier League referee Anthony Taylor
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Outraged Germany fans have launched a petition to have Anthony Taylor removed from the UEFA referees’ list – and to order a replay of Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final between the hosts and Spain.
They are fuming with the English official and his VAR team for failing to award the hosts a penalty for handball against Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in their quarter-final defeat last Friday. Spain won the tie 2-1 in extra time.
Tournament hosts Germany lost the game 2-1 after extra time following a 119th-minute winner scored by Mikel Merino.
Dani Olmo had earlier opened the scoring at the start of the second half before Florian Wirtz netted a dramatic 89th-minute equaliser for Germany.
But the game’s most controversial moment came in the 23rd minute of extra time, shortly before Merino’s decisive strike.
It involved Chelsea‘s Spanish left back Marc Cucurella, whose left hand blocked a shot from Jamal Musiala inside the penalty area.
Referee Anthony Taylor was in charge of the Euros quarter-final between Germany and Spain
Taylor did not award a penalty after the ball struck the hand of Spain’s Marc Cucurella (right)
Germany fans and players were adamant that this should have resulted in a penalty kick but Premier League referee Anthony Taylor disagreed, while his VAR team did not advise him to review his original call.
Many of those fans, more than 30,000 at the time of writing, have since signed a petition via change.org.
The petition’s mission statement reads: ‘Euro 2024 quarter-final: Germany vs Spain. Anthony Taylor whistled the match. But obviously unfair!
‘After a clear handball by Marc Cucurella (player in the Spanish team) in the penalty area (with his hand outstretched), Germany were not awarded the penalty they clearly deserved, which could have rightly tipped the game in their favor.
‘And that’s not even the first time! Taylor has already been criticized by another referee for being biased towards Spain.
‘We therefore demand that UEFA replay the match, investigate Taylor’s breach of neutrality and punish him!’
The ball hit Cucurella’s hand following a shot by Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala (left)
Spain beat Germany 2-1 after extra time following a late goal scored by Mikel Merino (No 6)
Obviously, this petition is not going to result in any action by UEFA, with Spain set to take on France in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Despite the frustration of the Germany fanbase, ESPN editor Dale Johnson has claimed that Taylor made the correct decision.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday night, Johnson explained: ‘UEFA’s pre-tournament briefing on handballs gave a specific example just like Marc Cucurella, saying it should NOT be a handball penalty.
‘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.’
Taylor has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA-listed official since 2013
Earlier in the tournament, Denmark’s Joachim Andersen (centre) was penalised for handball in a game against Germany because his arm was deemed to have been in an unnatural position
The winner of Tuesday’s semi-final between Spain and France will face either England or the Netherlands in the final on July 14.
Spain are the only team to have won all of their matches, including extra-time, at Euro 2024 so far.
La Roja beat Croatia, Italy and Albania during the group phase before thrashing Georgia 4-1 in the round of 16.