Marc Cucurella Says UEFA Changed Handball Rule After His Controversial Incident Against Germany at Euro 2024
Spain international Marc Cucurella has admitted that UEFA was forced to revise its handball laws following a highly-debated incident he was involved in during last summer’s European Championship.
The Chelsea defender was at the center of controversy in Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against Germany when the ball struck his arm inside the penalty box. Despite loud protests from the German players and fans, the referee chose not to award a penalty, judging that Cucurella’s handball was not intentional. Spain went on to win the match 2-1, with Mikel Merino scoring a dramatic stoppage-time header to seal their place in the semi-final.
That moment quickly became one of the most talked-about episodes of the tournament. Many analysts and former referees argued that under the rules at the time, a penalty could have been awarded. Others defended the decision, insisting Cucurella had no time to react to a close-range shot. The controversy reopened discussions about the lack of clarity in UEFA’s handball regulations, particularly regarding intent and natural arm positioning.
Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Cucurella confirmed that UEFA has since used his incident as a teaching point in referee briefings and has modified the rules to avoid similar confusion. “Yes, that handball has been talked about all over the world,” he said. “In fact, UEFA recently came to give us a talk and used my handball against Germany as an example. They told me it was because of me that they had to change the rules.”
The 26-year-old also stressed that he never deliberately tried to handle the ball, explaining the circumstances of the play. “They took a shot at me from close range and the ball hit me, but I didn’t mean to hit it with my hand. I didn’t do it on purpose. Man, I would have been the most hated guy in Spain,” he added with a laugh.
The incident remains fresh in the memories of both Spanish and German fans. For Spain, it was another example of narrow margins working in their favor during a successful run that carried them deep into the tournament. For Germany, however, it was viewed as a decisive refereeing decision that denied them the chance to take the game into extra time or even snatch victory.
UEFA has not issued a formal public statement directly linking Cucurella’s handball to the rule change, but referees have reportedly been instructed to adopt a clearer interpretation of accidental handballs in the penalty area. The governing body now places greater emphasis on distance, reaction time, and whether the arm is in a natural position, hoping to minimize controversy in future competitions.
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