- Spain defeated Germany 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2024
- The match in Stuttgart was officiated by Premier League referee Anthony Taylor
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Furious German fans have started a petition to have Anthony Taylor removed from UEFA’s referee list and demand a replay of the home side’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain on Friday.
They are furious with the England 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, with Spain winning the match 2-1 in extra time.
Host country Germany lost the match 2-1 after extra time, thanks to a goal from Mikel Merino in the 119th minute.
Dani Olmo had opened the scoring early in the second half, before Florian Wirtz equalised for Germany in the 89th minute.
But the most controversial moment of the match came in the 23rd minute of extra time, shortly before Merino’s decisive goal.
It involved Chelsea’s Spanish left back Marc Cucurella, who blocked a shot from Jamal Musiala in the penalty area with his left hand.
Referee Anthony Taylor officiated at the European Championship quarter-final between Germany and Spain
Taylor did not award a penalty after the ball hit the hand of Spaniard Marc Cucurella (right)
The German fans and players were adamant that this should have resulted in a penalty, but Premier League referee Anthony Taylor disagreed, and his VAR team did not advise him to review his original decision.
Many of those fans, over 30,000 at the time of writing, have now signed a petition via change.org.
The petition’s mission statement reads: ‘Euro 2024 Quarter Finals: Germany vs. Spain. Anthony Taylor refereed the match. But clearly unfair!
‘After a clear handball by Marc Cucurella (player of the Spanish national team) in the penalty area (with his hand out), Germany were not awarded the penalty they clearly deserved, which could have rightly decided the match in their favour.
‘And that’s not even the first time! Taylor has already been criticised 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 after a shot from German midfielder Jamal Musiala (left)
Spain defeated Germany 2-1 after extra time, thanks to a late goal from Mikel Merino (No. 6)
It is understood that UEFA will not take any action on this petition. Spain will face France in the semi-final on Tuesday.
Despite the frustration of the German fanbase, ESPN editor Dale Johnson claims that Taylor made the right decision.
On Friday evening, Johnson wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘UEFA gave a specific example during the pre-tournament briefing on handball, as did Marc Cucurella, and said there should NOT be a penalty for handball.
‘Arm close to the side, pointing predominantly downward/vertically, and/or in a position behind the line of the body.
‘It is different from the penalty Joachim Andersen got against Germany. UEFA finds that arm position unnatural and a barrier.
“It’s understandable that fans think the two decisions are going in the wrong direction… But that’s not the intention.”
Taylor has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA-registered official since 2013
Earlier in the tournament, Dane Joachim Andersen (centre) was penalised for handball in a match against Germany after his arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position
The winner of Tuesday’s semi-final between Spain and France will play England or the Netherlands in the final on July 14.
Spain is the only team to have won all its matches, including extra time, at Euro 2024 so far.
La Roja defeated Croatia, Italy and Albania in the group stage, before beating Georgia 4-1 in the round of 16.