Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has called for a revision of the handball rule after his team’s contentious exit from Euro 2024.
During Germany’s quarterfinal loss to Spain on Friday, the critical moment came when a shot by Jamal Musiala struck Spanish defender Marc Cucurella’s arm. Referee Anthony Taylor decided there was no handball, and Germany was ultimately defeated by Mikel Merino’s late header in extra time.
While Nagelsmann acknowledged the decision was in line with current rules, he emphasized the need for clearer, fairer regulations.
“There is a rule, and I hope there is no wrong decision,” Nagelsmann stated. “They applied the rule, and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated. The question is about making it more practical and logical regarding how the handball rule is assessed.
“You look at the hand, if it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”
Julian Nagelsmann was highlighting the rule about a defender’s hand being in a “natural” or “unnatural” position. Marc Cucurella’s arm was close to his body, which worked in his favor. If his arm had been extended, a penalty might have been awarded.
Earlier in the tournament, during Germany’s round of 16 match, Denmark’s Joachim Andersen’s handball incident was similar, with his hand positioned in front of his body.
Nagelsmann expressed confusion over the rule’s application: “I don’t understand why we don’t consider the ball’s trajectory. If Musiala kicks it toward the sky and it hits the hand, that’s different from it going toward the goal. The direction should matter. If it’s going into the goal, it’s a penalty; if not, it shouldn’t be.
“The rule needs to be simpler. Intentions are subjective. We should consider where the ball is headed. We have technology for many things, so there should be an AI to determine the ball’s path.”
FIFA’s regulations state, “a player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation,” which leaves some ambiguity.
Nagelsmann isn’t alone in his frustration. Denmark’s Kasper Hjulmand, who saw his team eliminated by Germany, also expressed his exasperation: “I’m really fed up with these absurd handball rules,” Hjulmand stated.