UEFA has explained the controversial decision that prompted a petition for a Euro 2024 fixture to be replayed.

The heavyweight clash between Germany and Spain ended in controversial fashion as Luis de la Fuente’s side advanced to the next round in dramatic style.

Dani Olmo opened the scoring just after the break before Florian Wirtz forced the game into extra-time following a late equaliser.

Mikel Merino, formerly of Newcastle United, headed home Spain’s winner late on in extra-time.

But before Merino grabbed his side’s winning goal, Germany thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Jamal Musiala‘s strike hit Marc Cucurella’s hand.

Cucurella’s hand was by his side, but he blocked Musiala’s goal-bound effort, sparking appeals.

The German penalty appeals, however, were waved away by Anthony Taylor as UEFA ‘set to make a decision’ over the Premier League referee.

Taylor’s verdict was supported by Stuart Atwell, who was on VAR duty for the quarter-final match.

The decision not to award a penalty for Germany angered people as they launched a petition calling for the game to be replayed.

Anthony Taylor fails to award a penalty despite German appeals. Image: Getty

European football’s governing body, though, has explained its decision not to award a penalty as Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s head of referees, provided an explanation in his pre-tournament briefing.

He showed a clip of the ball hitting a defender’s arm from a shot on goal, with the arm in a vertical position, close to the body – like the incident in Germany vs. Spain.

Rosetti said: “Not every touch of arm, hand is a penalty. We want to consider the movement of the players. Biomechanical movements. You know, this is a clear situation. This is never a penalty.”

Spain progressed to semi-finals at the expense of Germany as they face France on Tuesday for a spot in the final of Euro 2024.

If victorious, they will play the winner of England vs. The Netherlands.