Former Liverpool star reaches final straw as he shares ‘serious concerns for future’

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann vented his frustration with VAR on social media following Germany’s 2-0 win over Denmark at Euro 2024.

The hosts beat the Danes in a match that was suspended for a period due to extreme weather conditions. Play resumed but was then marred by controversy, with VAR playing a major role in irritating former players.

The main point of contention for many was the penalty awarded to Germany in the second half, when left-back David Raum crossed the ball just outside the penalty area. The ball hit the hand of the Dane Joachim Andersen, and VAR signalled to referee Michael Oliver that it could be a penalty.

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Oliver applied the letter of the law, but the decision was harsh given Andersen’s proximity to Raum. Kai Havertz converted the penalty, but the likes of Ian Wright, Roy Keane and current Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglu criticised the decision on ITV’s coverage of the match.

Meanwhile, Hamann has turned to X to vent his anger, saying he is “worried about the future of the game”. “I never believed VAR would work,” Hamann said. “I’ve taken the good with the bad, but today is the first time I’m seriously worried about our beautiful game.”

Germany eventually won the match 2-0, but Havertz’s penalty changed the course of the game. At the time of the handball incident, the score was 0-0.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand also criticised the nature of the handball rules, saying in a post-match press conference: “I’m tired of these ridiculous handball rules. We can’t ask our defenders to run with their hands like that (flat to the sides), it’s not natural. Joachim runs normally, it’s a normal situation. He jumped and was hit from one metre away. I rarely talk about decisions, but this was very decisive in our game.”

Germany advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Spain-Georgia match in Stuttgart on 5 July.

Liverpool.com reports: Anyone who watched the Germany-Denmark match can’t help but feel sorry for Andersen and Denmark. VAR is a good thing, but the handball rule is changing rapidly, making the game increasingly difficult for defenders, especially when they are in their own penalty area.