Euro 2024, Graziano Cesari doesn’t hold it against Anthony Taylor
Former referee condemns Anthony Taylor and more
The first quarterfinal match of Euro 2024 è ended with a victory for Spain, which beat Germany thanks to a goal by Mikel Merino in the last minutes of the second extra time. However, the challenge in Stuttgart also sparked discussion in the hours that followed because of the controversial decision by match director Anthony Taylor not to award a penalty kick to the German side in the second overtime, when Musiala’s sure-fire conclusion was blocked with a hand touch in the box by Cucurella. On the incident was expressed in no uncertain terms the former referee Graziano Cesari, who did not spare himself against the English referee.
"That episode è a clear penalty, there's not even to discuss. Cucurella made no attempt whatsoever to avoid the impact and his left arm was off his torso. Taylor absolutely saw wrong on the field and the shot was directed toward the goal" began the'former referee to the microphones of "Sportmediaset".
"The rules say that to not be a penalty the arm must be adjacent to the body or behind the back. This è was not the case. How come the defender did not è intervene directly with his arm behind his back as he should have done?" added the Parma native.
"The Musiala-Cucurella episode for me è a very serious mistake, but I wonder why VAR also did not intervene. They should have called Taylor back to let him judge the situation more calmly, because è the doubts already in the live feed were many. Then maybe he wouldn’t change the decision or probably sì but they definitely should have had him reevaluate it all on screen. I know UEFA doesn't want Var to intervene unless deemed extremely necessary, but in this case and at that delicate moment of the match it seemed to me appropriate to go to the'on field review"” Graziano Cesari commented.
