Spain defender Marc Cucurella has revealed that UEFA adjusted its handball rules following a controversial incident he was involved in at Euro 2024.

The flashpoint came during Spain’s dramatic quarter-final clash against Germany, when the ball struck Cucurella’s arm inside the penalty box. Despite German protests, the referee waved play on, and Spain went on to win 2-1 thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time header.

The decision sparked huge debate worldwide, with many questioning the consistency and subjectivity of handball calls. Looking back, Cucurella admitted the moment had lasting consequences.

“UEFA recently came to give us a talk and used my handball against Germany as an example,” Cucurella told AS. “They told me it was because of me that they had to change the rules.”

He was quick to defend himself, stressing there was no intention behind the handball.
“They took a shot at me from close range and the ball hit me, but I didn’t do it on purpose,” he said. “Man, I would have been the most hated guy in Spain…”

Cucurella’s handball may have gone unpunished in the heat of the match, but its legacy is now written into football’s rulebook.