Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand finds the handball rules “ridiculous” and argues that’s not how football should be played. He made the comments after two VAR decisions within a two-minute period against his team ultimately led Euro 2024 hosts Germany to a 2-0 victory in the Germany vs Denmark round of sixteen battle in Dortmund.
Michael Oliver chalked off a Joachim Andersen goal in the 48th minute after a VAR review identified a hairline offside by Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney.
Just two minutes later, the Premier League referee awarded Germany a penalty after consulting with VAR officials Stuart Attwell and David Coote.
The VAR panel advised him to review a potential handball by Joachim Andersen following a cross from David Raum. Kai Havertz converted the penalty from the spot, putting Germany 1-0 ahead before Jamal Musiala doubled their lead later in the first half.
However, a visibly frustrated Hjulmand expressed reservations about the use of VAR after the Germany vs Denmark match.
Germany vs Denmark Euro 2024: What Did Hjulmand Say?
“It was decided by two VAR decisions,” Hjulmand said. “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 [to Germany]. 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.”
Hjulmand, however, maintained his faith in VAR despite the two contentious calls that went against his team.
“I always liked VAR,” he said. “rI think technology can do something good for the sport, but in my opinion, when a decision is good it should be visible from the moon and not depend on a few centimetres. It’s supposed to be clear and obvious.
“But when it’s like this, it’s a little questionable. It should also be quicker. There has to be a way to improve it.
“We’ve been taught in seminars so many times to explain the handball rule and we have asked what is a natural movement?
“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.”
What Did the Germany Boss Say?
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann conceded that he could understand Hjulmand’s frustrations. The ex-Bayern Munich head coach said that he would have likely made similar complaints had the decisions gone against his own team.
“We had a penalty and I understand Denmark were annoyed by it,” Nagelsmann said. “It’s quite harsh, he didn’t do it intentionally, but that’s the rule. I would have been upset if it had happened the other way around, though.”
