30 June 2024 , 09:12
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Alan Shearer has branded the handball law "s***" after Germany were awarded a controversial penalty at Euro 2024.
Germany beat Denmark 2-0 in their last-16 clash thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala. However, Havertz's penalty proved controversial, with Denmark penalised after a cross from David Raum struck Joachim Andersen's hand from close range.
Havertz promptly converted the spot kick to give Germany the lead, with Musiala adding a second 15 minutes later. In response to the penalty decision, Shearer wrote on social media : "The hand ball law is s***".
And Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand branded it "ridiculous" in his post-match press conference, while also bemoaning a tight offside decision that saw Andersen have a goal disallowed. "First of all I would like to congratulate Germany with this win," Hjulmand said.
"We were pressured the first 15 minutes, it was pure survival. After then it was an equal game - it was decided by two VAR decisions. I have the photo here, it was one centimetre. In terms of data, it doesn't make sense, this is not how we should be using VAR.
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"After a few minutes there was a penalty, I am so tired of the ridiculous handball rules. We cannot require our defenders to be running like this, it's not natural. He jumped up and was hit from one metre. I rarely talk about these decisions but it was very decisive for this game."
And Andersen himself accused referee Michael Oliver of being "completely brain dead" for awarding Germany the penalty. "It's one of the worst refereeing performances I've seen in my career," the Crystal Palace defender fumed.
(AFP via Getty Images)"Offside is offside, but giving a handball in a situation like this is absolutely crazy. Two years ago we had a referee meeting before the season in the Premier League, where we talked about the fact that something like that can never be judged. He is half a meter from me and kicks the ball up onto my hand.
"I had it in a natural position, so no penalty can ever be awarded. They told us that in black and white. That he then goes out and judges it handball - an English referee even - is completely brain dead. We must not talk to him. We get fines and red cards.
"Just say one little thing and it's: 'Boom, yellow card.' It's a ridiculous rule. He can make all the mistakes he wants and we must not say anything. Of course you react when the referee makes a wrong decision. And I don't know how many of them he made in this match."