Denmark’s Joachim Andersen Slams VAR After 2-0 Defeat to Germany.
Denmark defender Joachim Andersen has voiced his frustration with the officiating during their Euro 2024 match against Germany, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for his team.
Andersen criticised the decision to award a penalty against him, which he believes was unjust and significantly influenced the outcome of the game. The Crystal Palace player also had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) during the match in Dortmund.
“It was crazy and not a penalty at all,” Andersen said, according to EuroFoot. “I can’t run around with my arms behind my back and play football. He’s half a metre away from me and hits the ball on my hand, so I can’t see what I could do to prevent it.”
The controversial penalty decision saw Kai Havertz score from the spot, and Jamal Musiala added another goal for Germany, sealing their progress to the quarter-finals.
Andersen also questioned the offside decision that nullified Denmark’s goal. “The offside call is also difficult to see. It’s so minimal that you really have to look for it. But the handball call is the craziest I’ve ever seen. Margins decided the game. If our goal had been allowed, I’m convinced we would have won the game.”
Despite the defeat, Andersen’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate over VAR’s impact on the game, with many calling for clearer guidelines and more consistent decisions.
