UEFA to Reevaluate Penalty Rule With FIFA, IFAB Following Julian Alvarez's Disallowed Spot-Kick Against Real Madrid

Add as a preferred source on Google

UEFA has confirmed that the decision to disallow Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid's Champions League clash against Real Madrid was correct under existing rules.

However, European football's governing body has announced plans to enter discussions with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) regarding a possible review of the rule.

Atletico Madrid were left furious after Alvarez's penalty in the last-16 tie was ruled out. The Argentine forward slipped as he struck the ball, causing his left foot to make slight contact before his right foot took the shot. Under the Laws of the Game, a penalty taker is not allowed to touch the ball twice before another player makes contact.

The incident, detected by VAR, led to the spot-kick being overturned, denying Atletico a chance to level the shootout at 2-2.

UEFA defended the call in an official statement on Thursday:

"Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it. Under the current law (Rules of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee, signaling that the goal should be disallowed. UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional."

Atletico Madrid have not formally responded to UEFA's statement, but head coach Diego Simeone expressed his anger at the decision in his post-match press conference.

"I've never seen the VAR called to review a penalty in a shootout ... Never!" said Simeone.

"Did you see him touching the ball twice? Please, whoever was present in the stadium and saw him touching the ball twice, the ball moving, please come forward and raise your hand!

"I don't see anybody with their hand raised, so that's all I have to say ... next question."

The controversy has sparked outrage among Atletico fans, many of whom took to social media to express their frustration.

"It's so clear that they want Madrid to go through," wrote one fan on X.

"Football will never see anything like this again," another supporter added. "A historic robbery has taken place at the Metropolitano with the whole world watching."

Some fans also argued that Alvarez should have been given the opportunity to retake the penalty.

"Canceling a penalty because there might have been a double touch is abhorrent," a user posted. "There's no other way to put it: it's anti-football."

With UEFA now set to discuss the rule with FIFA and IFAB, there could be potential changes to how unintentional double touches are handled in the future. However, for Atletico, the damage has already been done, as their Champions League campaign ended in controversy.