UEFA has confirmed that Julián Álvarez’s penalty was disallowed due to an unintentional double touch, and plans to review the rule
[dropcap]U[/dropcap]EFA has addressed the controversy surrounding Julián Álvarez’s disallowed penalty during Atlético Madrid’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid, confirming that the striker unintentionally made a double touch before successfully converting his spot kick.
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The decision has sparked widespread debate, leading UEFA to announce plans to review the current penalty rules.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, UEFA confirmed that Atlético Madrid had sought clarification on the incident, which ultimately played a significant role in their elimination from the tournament.
The penalty in question, taken by Álvarez at the end of the crucial UEFA Champions League match, was ruled out after video analysis showed the player made slight contact with the ball using his standing foot before striking it.
UEFA’s statement read, “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.”
The ruling, in line with Law 14.1 of the Laws of the Game, states that a penalty can be disallowed if a double touch occurs before the ball is struck, even if it is unintentional.
Although the second touch appeared minimal, UEFA clarified that the VAR had instructed the referee to disallow the goal following a video analysis.
“Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip,” UEFA explained.
“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.”
The decision created a stir across social media, with fans, pundits, and Atlético’s head coach, Diego Simeone, expressing frustration over the ruling.
Atlético’s elimination from the tournament added fuel to the fire, with many arguing that the rule needs further examination, particularly in instances where the double touch is unintentional.
In response to the widespread backlash, UEFA confirmed that they would be entering discussions with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to assess whether the rule should be revised in cases where the double touch is clearly unintentional.
This move could lead to a future change in how such incidents are judged during high-stakes matches like the Champions League.
“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,” the statement concluded.
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As the controversy continues to simmer, football fans and experts alike are waiting to see whether changes will be made to Law 14.1 in the wake of this incident, which has left a lasting impression on this year’s Champions League campaign.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
