In a significant admission, the UEFA Referees Committee has confirmed that a penalty should have been awarded in future cases similar to the Germany vs Spain match, where Marc Cucurella’s handball went unpunished. The decision has sparked reactions from players, including Toni Kroos, who expressed his frustration over the time taken to acknowledge the mistake.
UEFA Admits Handball Mistake
UEFA’s recent announcement comes months after the controversial match between Germany and Spain, where Cucurella’s handball went unnoticed, and no penalty was awarded. The incident caused an uproar among fans and players alike, with many arguing that a clear handball had been missed. UEFA has now clarified that penalties should be awarded in similar future situations, acknowledging their previous error.
Toni Kroos Responds Sarcastically
Toni Kroos, a veteran of the German national team, took to social media to react to UEFA’s admission. In his typical sarcastic tone, Kroos remarked, “It took them three months to realise it was a handball, something that almost everyone saw in just a second.” The Real Madrid midfielder also poked fun at UEFA, adding, “Thank you, it wasn’t that big of a deal (ironically).”
Kroos continued by questioning the significance of the late admission, humorously asking, “Can I proclaim myself European champion now that they’ve officially said it was a mistake? I don’t think so.” His comments reflect a broader sentiment of frustration over the delay in addressing the issue, which impacted the outcome of the match.
UEFA’s New Handball Rule Clarification
The error has prompted UEFA to implement new guidelines for handball touches, ensuring that future situations like the Germany vs Spain incident are handled more effectively. The updated rules aim to provide clarity on what constitutes a handball and ensure consistency in decisions across all matches under UEFA’s jurisdiction
While UEFA’s admission of their mistake in the Germany vs Spain match is a step towards improving refereeing standards, the delayed acknowledgment has left players like Toni Kroos unimpressed. His sarcastic response highlights the frustrations players experience when critical decisions are not made in real time, especially when it comes to moments that can define major tournaments.
Summary
UEFA admits a penalty should have been awarded for Cucurella’s handball in Germany vs Spain.
Toni Kroos sarcastically criticizes the delay in the decision.
UEFA updates handball rules to prevent future errors in similar cases.