Spain defender Marc Cucurella has revealed that UEFA altered its handball rules following a controversial incident involving him during Euro 2024.
Marc Cucurella was at the centre of a heated debate in Spain’s quarter-final clash against hosts Germany when the ball struck his arm inside the penalty area. Despite loud protests from the German players and fans, the referee chose not to award a penalty.
Spain went on to win the match 2-1, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s dramatic stoppage-time header, but the decision sparked global discussions about the interpretation of handball.
Reflecting on the moment, Cucurella told Spanish outlet AS: “Yes, that handball has been talked about all over the world. In fact, UEFA recently came to give us a talk and used my handball against Germany as an example. And they told me it was because of me that they had to change the rules.”
The Chelsea defender also clarified that he never intended to handle the ball, stressing it was an unavoidable situation rather than a deliberate act.
“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,” he explained. “Man, I would have been the most hated guy in Spain…”
The fallout from the incident has since reshaped UEFA’s interpretation of handball, aiming to reduce ambiguity in refereeing decisions.
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