UEFA Euro 2024: Controversy erupts as referee does not allow retake after Croatia miss penalty against Spain

Spain's Rodri hauled down Croatia's Bruno Petkovic in the penalty box during their UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Unai Simon saved Petkovic's spot-kick, but he later converted off a rebound following an assist from Ivan Perisic. Croatian players went out to celebrate after Petkovic's goal, but the referee eventually turned it down.

After reviewing the tape, the VAR officials along with the referee observed that Perisic ran inside the box prior to the penalty being taken. This is known as 'encroachment' in penalty kicks, and it is not permitted, so the goal was denied without any kind of retake.

According to the official 'Football Association' (FA) rulebook, during a penalty kick, all players other than the kicker and custodian must be at least 9.15 metres (10 yards) away from the spot mark, behind the penalty sign, in the field of action and outside the penalty area.

After each player has assumed their positions according to this Law, the referee indicates for a penalty kick to have been taken. Although Croatia is incorrect because Perisic was clearly inside the box, Spain cannot be considered entirely correct either. Unai Simon seems to have gone off his position marginally shortly before the kick, which is not permitted. The referee may have directed the penalty to have been retaken, but he chose to play on otherwise.

Spain thrash Croatia to take all three points in Group B encounter

Spain kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign in spectacular style, defeating Croatia 3-0 in the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Although the scoreline depicts a rather one-sided game, Croatia did put up a good fight but suffered greatly from the Spaniards' clinical finishing abilities. 

Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal scored goals to provide their team a much-needed boost in what is regarded as a key event for Spain. Things can only get better for teenagers Lamine Yamal, who emerged the youngest athlete in the entire history of the tournament and recorded an important assist in his debut game and start in the tournament.