A handball by Marc Cucurella kept the experts busy after Germany’s European Championship exit. Michael Ballack was angry, Julian Nagelsmann disappointed

Michael Ballack was furious. “That’s a clear wrong decision. It’s a clear advantage, the scene meets all the criteria for a handball penalty,” the former Germany captain raged into the microphone on MagentaTV. “There is no clearer handball in soccer.” A scene in the 106th minute, shortly after the start of the second half in extra time of the European Championship quarter-final between Germany and Spain, provoked a lot of emotion and even an argument between TV pundits

But what had happened? Niclas Füllkrug laid off for Jamal Musiala on the edge of the penalty area, who shot from around 20 meters and hit the diving Spanish centre-back Marc Cucurella on the hand. English referee Anthony Taylor had a good view of the incident and allowed play to continue, and the VAR did not intervene despite a collective outcry in the stadium and many complaints from German players. In the end, Germany lost the quarter-final 2-1 after extra time thanks to a late goal from former BVB flop Mikel Merino in the 119th minute.

Bundesliga referee Ittrich defends decision

In the aftermath, the experts were particularly concerned about the alleged penalty situation. On MagentaTV, Ballack was joined by former international Skhodran Mustafi and even presenter Johannes B. Kerner. “The ball goes straight at the goal. That’s a clear penalty,” said Mustafi, who won the World Cup with the DFB team in Brazil in 2014.

German Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich, who was in the MagentaTV studio as an expert, tried to explain the scene from the point of view of the referee, referring to the current handball rules. “The player pulls his hand back out of the shooting lane,” he said. “This handball highlights our dilemma because we have room for interpretation,” said the referee. That didn’t make him happy himself; he himself would probably have decided on a penalty.

Taylor, however, was not, which is why presenter Kerner got upset in the Stuttgart stadium. “I can’t listen to that,” said the experienced TV presenter. The margin of discretion could not decide such a game. Ballack also saw it that way: “There is no room for interpretation not to review this scene.” Ittrich had a different opinion based on the rules. “You have to look at the entire sequence of movements,” he said. Even the video evidence could not have overturned the Onfield decision. It was a can-but-not-must decision.

Nagelsmann angry after penalty decision

Former referee Bibiana Steinhaus, who was on ARD as an expert, took a similar view. “The shot came from a short distance and was incredibly sharp. The referee has decided that it’s a relatively natural position in defense. It’s not a clear wrong decision. The player tried to put his arms down at that moment. I can understand it,” she said.

Bastian Schweinsteiger saw it differently on ARD. “Someone has to explain that to me. Out of ten times, nine of them are penalties. The hand is not directly on the body. I was amazed. My heart bleeds when I see something like that,” said the 2014 world champion alongside Esther Sedlaczek.

And what does national coach Julian Nagelsmann say? “If the ball is on target, then it’s a clear penalty,” he said with tears in his eyes after the quarter-final exit with the German national team. “The shot is on target. It’s more of a penalty than the one against Denmark,” said the national coach. In the round of 16 victory, Germany were awarded the goal after a handball by Denmark’s Joachim Andersen. A decision that not everyone could understand last weekend either