Why was Marc Cucurella’s goal for Spain disallowed in World Cup last-32? | OneFootball

Marc Cucurella controversially had an opener disallowed in Spain’s World Cup last-32 clash with Austria with pundits unanimous that the referee’s on-field decision should have been overturned.

Cucurella blasted home after a corner delivery caused chaos in the Austria box, but referee Glenn Nyberg ruled for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Replays showed that while Spain defender Pau Cubarsi challenged for the header next to Schlager, the contact that allegedly impeded the Red Bull Salzburg stopper did not appear significant enough for a foul.

However, the referee blew instantly against Cubarsi and after a brief stoppage - where no VAR check was made apparent - the game resumed.

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Marc Cucurella appeals to the referee after his goal was disallowed (AP)

BBC co-commentator Danny Murphy immediately expressed that he felt the decision was soft.

“I can’t see anything on the goalkeeper,” he said. “ There is a man in front of him, but he's not fouling him.

“I don’t think that should be disallowed, there’s nothing in that at all.”

The contentious call was similar to the one that saw Jonathan Tah’s extra-time goal ruled out for Germany in their round of 32 clash with Paraguay, which emerged on the losing side of after the match subsequently went to penalties.

Jurgen Klopp went on to fume about how Arsenal would not have won the Premier League if decisions like that stood in the English top flight, taking a jibe at their tendency to crowd keepers at set-pieces, and former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was similarly irate at the call.

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Jonathan Tah’s extra-time goal for Germany against Paraguay was disallowed for a similar foul (Reuters)

Hart said: “Premier League goalkeepers are going to be throwing their food and drink at the TV watching this.

“For this to be disallowed... Schlager, I watched his reaction, I don’t think it’s a foul. It’s really not. It’s really soft. It’s just people challenging for the ball.

“Sometimes I can understand it if you get your hands knocked away or taken away from you. That's just an innocent challenge, and he gets bullied a little bit. Of course, he does.

“It's a good finish from Cucurella, but honestly, when you see the referee with a whistle in his mouth, not facing the goal, you're (Schlager) absolutely delighted there. He's got away with one. No getting away from it.”

Hart did highlight that “something needed to be done” on jostling in the penalty box, which he says was “getting out of hand” in the Premier League, but nevertheless was frustrated to see “two perfectly good goals” chalked off.

Darren Cann, the BBC’s resident refereeing expert, also agreed that the goal should have been given.

“I don’t see a foul,” Cann attested. “ It's very similar to the Tah header in the Germany game that also got disallowed wrongly, in my opinion.

“This is a fair challenge for the ball. I would have given the goal, but I understand why it's been disallowed, bearing in mind the Germany game that I've just referred to.

“So it's consistent with the refereeing earlier in the tournament, but certainly in the Premier League, those would be given.”

Murphy then added: “I think it’s very, very harsh, and I’m really glad that Darren agreed with me. More evidence that I could work in VAR!

“Unfortunately when you’re playing the game, those little decisions, you can only look back later and feel hard done by. You haven’t got time to dwell on it. You’ve just got to get on, keep making the chances, keep getting in there.

“We know the Spanish are patient anyway. They won’t get flustered. They’ll just keep doing what they’re doing.”

Spain did in fact keep pushing for an opener and it took just a few more minutes for them to be successful in that pursuit, with Mikel Oyarzabal deservingly putting La Roja in front in Los Angeles.