Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand lashed out at VAR after two decisive interventions in last night’s controversial 2-0 defeat to Germany at Euro 2024 and insisted “this is not how football should be”.
The Danes were incensed as the round of 16 game in Dortmund swung the hosts’ way at the start of the second half.
First Joachim Anderson had a goal disallowed when VAR ruled Thomas Delaney was fractionally offside. Two minutes later, VAR officials Stuart Attwell and David Coote advised referee Michael Oliver to check a potential handball by Anderson after the ball flicked his hand as he came out to block a cross from David Raum.
Anderson’s arm was outstretched but it appeared in a natural position.
Oliver gave the penalty and Kai Havertz scored to put Germany in front and the game was settled when Jamal Musiala netted their second 15 minutes later.
Kai Havertz fires Germany into the lead from the spot 🔥
A whirlwind five minutes as the goal comes moments after Denmark were denied the opener by VAR at the other end 😬#Euro2024 | #GERDEN pic.twitter.com/LUhDADK8SX
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 29, 2024
Hjulmand said: “”It was decided by two VAR decisions.
“I have the photo here [of the Delaney offside]. It was one centimetre. It doesn’t make sense, this is not how we are supposed to be using VAR.
“And then after a few minutes, it’s a penalty. I am so tired of the ridiculous handball rules. We should not require defender to be playing with hands like this. He [Andersen] was running normally, it’s a normal situation and he was hit with the ball from a metre away.
“I rarely talk about these decisions, but it was very decisive for this game. Being in front at 1-0 would have been very important and changed everything for our team.
“Good luck for Germany, but in my opinion, this is not how football should be.”
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Lack of clarity over handball rule
Hjulmand said the handball rule remained unclear despite attempts from the game’s lawmakers IFAB to explain it.
“We’ve been taught in seminars so many times to explain the handball rule and we have asked what is a natural movement?” he added.
“When we are told, this is not a natural position for handball because the player has to have his arms out to run. Just tell me what the rule is.”
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel echoed Hjulmand’s thoughts, telling ITV: “I am not sure what a player is supposed to do when he’s running and the ball is whacked at his hand from a yard away.
“There was definitely a sense that the margins were on their side today.
“Football and common sense are two phrases that don’t go together any more.”
