Germany took the lead in their Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Denmark at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Saturday. The goal came in the 52nd minute, after a controversial penalty decision by referee Michael Oliver.
The incident occurred during a German counterattack. David Raum attempted to send the ball into the box, but it hit the arm of Joachim Andersen. Referee Oliver initially hesitated before seeking the assistance of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to determine if a penalty should be awarded.
The laws of football, as outlined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), stipulate that a handball foul can be overlooked only if the hand is close to the body. However, in this instance, Andersen’s hand was deemed to be in an unnatural position, resulting in a penalty being awarded.
Kai Havertz stepped up to take the penalty and calmly converted the opportunity, giving Germany a 1-0 lead. This victory secured Germany’s place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
