The DFB-Elf loses the European Championship final in Wembley Stadium against the hosts – but a contentious scene causes discussions.
Does the EM final between England and Germany have a scandal? The “Three Lionesses” won in a hard-fought final at Wembley Stadium in front of almost 90,000 spectators 2-1 after extra time – but apparently the hostesses benefited from a fatal wrong decision.
The 25th minute, score 0:0: After a German corner, the ball rolls into the English side’s six-yard box, Marina Hegering comes to the ball, but is immediately prevented from completing it by several opponents. And that’s when it happens: The ball bounces clearly on the forearm of the English defender Leah Williamson. Even more: The defender even seems to be actively walking to the ball in the slow-motion shots.
The German players immediately demand penalties. But the referees Paolo Valeri (Italy) and Pol van Boekel (Netherlands), who are responsible for the VAR, decide: no punishable handball. Referee Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine) therefore does not watch the scene again herself. An overall at least questionable decision.
“Of course it’s stupid”
Curious: National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg reacted with surprise in an interview with ARD after the final, apparently not having noticed the situation in detail during the game. “Handball. You have to see it,” said Voss-Tecklenburg immediately after viewing the video images. And further: “I don’t even know if that was checked somewhere…”. After information from ARD moderator Claus Lufen that the scene was actually checked, the 54-year-old reacted incredulously: “Then you don’t understand it at all. But it’s no use pursuing anything now. Of course it’s stupid. Then you have to the people who are responsible for it worry about it.”
But then Voss-Tecklenburg quickly recovered: “First of all, we’re dead sad that we lost 2-1 here today. But I don’t want to dwell on a situation now, that’s no use now. We have to let it sink in now, We can still be very proud of what we have achieved.” Nevertheless: The discussion about the meaning and purpose of the VAR will receive new nourishment.