UEFA to Discuss Potential Rule Change After Álvarez’s Disallowed Penalty in Champions League Drama
In a dramatic turn of events that has sparked widespread debate, UEFA has announced its intention to “enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB” regarding a possible amendment to the rule that led to Julián Álvarez‘s penalty being disallowed during Atlético Madrid‘s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
The match, which saw Real Madrid advance to the quarterfinals to face Arsenal, ended in a nail-biting 4-2 penalty shootout victory for the visitors after the aggregate score was tied at 2-2 following extra time at the Metropolitano.
The pivotal moment came during the shootout when Álvarez’s spot kick was ruled out by VAR. The decision was made after it was determined that the Atlético forward had inadvertently kicked the ball twice—once with each foot—as he slipped, sending the ball past Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
This ruling led to a wave of protests from Atlético, with their coach, Diego Simeone, vocally challenging the decision in his post-match press conference. Simeone argued that “the ball doesn’t move”, while Courtois retorted by accusing Atlético of “crying.”
In response to the controversy, UEFA released frame-by-frame footage on Thursday, which appeared to show “minimal” contact with the ball by Álvarez’s standing leg.
According to UEFA’s statement, “Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julián Alvarez 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 expressed its intention to “enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.”
For those unfamiliar, IFAB is the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for the laws of the game and any proposed changes.
The incident left many inside the stadium confused on Wednesday, as the disallowance of the spot kick was not immediately clear to those present. This confusion was compounded by the post-match protests led by Simeone.
Despite the controversy, Atlético Madrid had dominated the match for long periods, having secured a 1-0 victory on the night thanks to a goal from Conor Gallagher after just 27 seconds.
However, the club’s struggles against their local rivals in the Champions League continue. Atlético has never managed to come out on top against Real Madrid in this competition, having lost the finals in 2014 and 2016, and being eliminated in the 2017 semifinals.
- UEFA to discuss rule change with FIFA and IFAB
- Álvarez’s penalty disallowed due to double touch
- Real Madrid advances to face Arsenal in quarterfinals
- Atlético’s ongoing Champions League woes against Real Madrid
As the football world awaits the outcome of UEFA’s discussions, the Álvarez incident serves as a reminder of the fine margins that can decide the fate of teams in the high-stakes environment of the Champions League.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
