UEFA to Discuss Potential Rule Change After Álvarez’s Disallowed Penalty in Champions League Drama
In a dramatic turn of events during the UEFA Champions League clash between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, a controversial penalty decision has sparked discussions at the highest levels of football governance. UEFA announced that they will “enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB” regarding a possible change to the rule that led to Julián Álvarez’s penalty being disallowed. This decision played a pivotal role in Atlético Madrid’s defeat to their city rivals, Real Madrid, on Wednesday.
The match, held at the Metropolitano, ended in a nail-biting 4-2 penalty shootout victory for Real Madrid after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 on aggregate following extra time. This victory secured Real Madrid’s place in the quarterfinals, where they are set to face Arsenal.
The Controversial Penalty Incident
The key moment that has everyone talking occurred during the penalty shootout. Julián Álvarez, stepping up for Atlético, saw his spot kick ruled out after VAR determined that he had inadvertently kicked the ball twice. As Álvarez slipped, the ball was touched once with each foot before it found the back of the net past Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
This decision led to immediate protests from Atlético Madrid, with their coach, Diego Simeone, vocally challenging the ruling. Simeone insisted that “the ball doesn’t move” and engaged in a heated exchange with journalists during his postmatch news conference. Meanwhile, Courtois responded by accusing Atlético of “crying” over the decision.
UEFA’s Response and Future Discussions
In response to the uproar, UEFA released frame-by-frame footage on Thursday, which appeared to show “minimal” contact with the ball by Álvarez’s standing leg. UEFA stated, “Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julián Álvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid.”
They further explained, “Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed.”
UEFA has committed to entering discussions with FIFA and IFAB to explore whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional. IFAB, the International Football Association Board, is the body responsible for the laws of the game and any proposed changes.
Confusion and Protests
The Álvarez incident led to significant confusion inside the stadium on Wednesday. Many spectators were initially unaware that the spot kick had been disallowed, leading to postmatch protests by Atlético, spearheaded by Simeone.
Despite the controversy, Atlético Madrid had dominated the encounter for long spells. They managed to secure a 1-0 victory on the night, thanks to Conor Gallagher’s goal after just 27 seconds. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome their local rivals in the Champions League, a competition where they have historically struggled against Real Madrid. Atlético has never triumphed over Real in this tournament, having lost the 2014 and 2016 finals and being eliminated in the 2017 semifinals.
Looking Ahead
- Real Madrid will face Arsenal in the quarterfinals.
- UEFA, FIFA, and IFAB will discuss potential rule changes.
- Atlético Madrid continues to seek their first Champions League victory over Real Madrid.
The football world will be watching closely to see if this incident leads to a significant change in the rules governing penalty kicks. As the discussions unfold, fans and players alike will be eager to see how the game evolves in response to this high-profile controversy.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
