Marc Cucurella in action. (Image: Getty)
The Premier League Match Centre has written to explain why were not awarded a penalty despite the ball hitting Marc Cucurella’s hand inside the 18-yard box. The Spanish defender lost his balance while attempting to usher an pass out of play, but fell onto the ball and handled it.
He was being closed down and succumbed to the pressure, leading for a huge chance as the ball bobbled around the area for what felt like an age. However, Robert Sanchez eventually claimed it to relieve the pressure, with Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino perhaps feeling that an opportunity was missed before protesting for a spot-kick.
However, the Match Centre insisted that Cucurella’s arm was not making a deliberate action towards the ball and he only accidentally touched it.
They wrote: “The referee’s call of no penalty for handball by Cucurella was checked and confirmed by VAR – with his arm deemed to be in an expected position with no clear or deliberate action towards the ball.”
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