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8th July 2024
09:53am BST
Angry German football fans have demanded their game against Spain be replayed following a controversial decision.
Germany were beaten in the Euro 2024 quarter finals by Spain in the dying moments of extra time as Mikel Merino's 119th minute condemned the hosts to heartbreak.
Julian Nagelsmann's side had rescued the game in the last minute of normal time after falling behind to Dani Olmo's 51st minute effort.
Florian Wirtz then arrowed an effort into the bottom corner with just a minute left but ultimately it wasn't enough as Merino broke German hearts.
Many German fans were incensed with the result - not because of how they played - but because they felt they were denied a stonewall penalty.
Moment before Spain's winner a Jamal Musiala strike hit the hand of Marc Cucurella however Anthony Taylor waved away all protests.
Replays showed the ball clearly hitting his arm but Taylor and his VAR team thought otherwise.
In response to this, some Germany fans have launched a petition to get Taylor removed from the referees' list by launching a petition which, at the time of writing, currently has over 30,000 signatures.
It said: "Anthony Taylor whistled the match. But obviously unfair!
"After a clear handball by Marc Cucurella (player in the Spanish team) in the penalty area (with his hand outstretched), Germany were not awarded the penalty they clearly deserved, which could have rightly tipped the game in their favor.
"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!"
To be quite frank, not at all.
As pointed out by ESPN's Dale Johnson on X, UEFA doesn't deem the controversial call to be offside - according to their guidelines.
He said: "UEFA's pre-tournament briefing on handballs gave a specific example just like Marc Cucurella, saying it should NOT be a handball penalty.
"Arm close to the side, pointing predominantly down/vertically, and/or a position behind line of the body.
"It differs from the penalty Joachim Andersen conceded against Germany. UEFA deems that arm position to be unnatural and creating a barrier.
"Understandable fans would think the two decisions are the wrong way around... But they aren't per intended interpretation."
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