Spain and Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has admitted that UEFA altered its handball rules following the controversial incident involving him during Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final victory against Germany.

The moment in question came when the ball struck Cucurella’s arm inside the penalty area, sparking outrage among German players and fans after the referee declined to award a penalty. Spain went on to win 2–1 thanks to Mikel Merino’s dramatic stoppage-time header.

The decision triggered widespread debate about the subjectivity of handball calls under the existing laws.

Speaking to AS, Cucurella explained:

“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.”

He also clarified that the incident was not deliberate:

“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…”

Opinion: Football’s Eternal Debate—Fairness or Flaw in Handball Rules?

Cucurella’s revelation reignites one of football’s most hotly contested debates: what truly constitutes a handball?

The Spaniard’s incident perfectly illustrates the grey area referees often find themselves in. A split-second reaction, a ball blasted from close range, and suddenly, the referee must decide between punishing a player for something beyond his control or allowing play to continue. In Cucurella’s case, the referee’s decision favored Spain, but it left an entire footballing nation—Germany—feeling robbed.

UEFA’s move to revisit the handball law shows just how influential one moment can be in shaping the game. While rules are meant to provide clarity, the problem with the handball law is its subjectivity. What looks “deliberate” to one referee may seem “accidental” to another. Fans and players alike often feel decisions swing based on interpretation rather than consistency.

Yet Cucurella’s honesty is refreshing. Instead of hiding behind the controversy, he acknowledges the global debate his handball caused, even joking about becoming the “most hated man in Spain” if the penalty had been awarded.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that football’s beauty lies not just in goals and victories but also in its controversies, which push the game to evolve. UEFA may not have solved the handball dilemma entirely, but Cucurella’s case has left its mark on the rulebook—and on football history.