Toni Kroos blasts UEFA over leak – ‘Can I say I’m now a European champion?’
Former Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has expressed his frustrations after a report on Euro 2024 from UEFA’s Referees’ Committee advised the hosts should have been given a penalty for handball in their quarter-final defeat by Spain.
A last-minute equaliser from Florian Wirtz had forced extra time in the match in Stuttgart on July 9. Towards the end of the first period of extra-time, with the scores still locked at 1-1, Jamal Musiala’s shot struck the arm of Spain defender Marc Cucurella.
However, English referee Anthony Taylor did not award a penalty – suggesting Cucurella’s arm had been close to his body when the ball struck – and VAR Stuart Attwell backed the on-pitch decision which left Germany incensed. Spain eventually won the match though a goal from Mikel Merino and then went on to lift the trophy after beating England in the final Berlin.
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Spanish media published extracts from a leaked copy of UEFA’s Referees’ Committee report on Euro 2024, which said it highlighted the incident in the Germany versus Spain game as one which should have resulted in a spot-kick. It is understood as part of UEFA’s regular exchange with referees, the governing body review situations and provide guidance as to how they should be dealt with.
Cucurella’s handball was one of such reviews and it is understood UEFA’s report pointed out that a penalty should have been given at the time. Kroos, a World Cup winner in 2014, had come out of international retirement to play for Germany at Euro 2024.
The 34-year-old former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder subsequently announced he would be finishing his playing career after the tournament.
Following news of the UEFA report on Cucurella’s handball, Kroos said: “It took them three months to realise that there was a handball, something that almost everyone could see in a second. That reassures me a lot.”
Quoted by Spanish media outlet Marca, Kroos added: “Can I say that I am now European champion because it has been officially confirmed? I don’t think so.”
