The Julian Alvarez penalty controversy took center stage in the heated Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid forced a penalty shootout after securing a 1-0 win in the second leg against their city rivals. Conor Gallagher’s first-minute goal leveled the aggregate score, but neither team managed to score in extra time, leading to a dramatic tiebreaker. Real Madrid eventually won 4-2, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Alvarez’s Disallowed Penalty
The biggest controversy of the night unfolded when Julian Alvarez stepped up for Atletico’s second penalty. The Argentine striker slipped while striking the ball, which caused his standing foot to touch it before he completed his shot. The ball still found the net, beating Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but the referee immediately referred the play to VAR.
Under existing football laws, a penalty taker cannot touch the ball twice before another player makes contact.
Read: Real Madrid Edge Past Atlético in Controversial Shootout
UEFA Acknowledges the Controversy
After the match, multiple video angles surfaced, confirming that VAR’s decision was correct. However, Atletico fans remained outraged, arguing that the double contact was unintentional and should not have resulted in a disallowed goal.
Less than 24 hours later, UEFA announced that it will engage with FIFA and IFAB to assess whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is accidental. This decision could spark future changes in football’s penalty rules.
Fans and Experts React
Football analysts and fans were divided over the VAR intervention. Some insisted that rules are rules, and the decision was technically correct. Others felt the spirit of the game was compromised, as Alvarez had no intention of gaining an unfair advantage.
Atletico supporters expressed frustration, believing the call cost them the match. The debate over VAR’s role in football has intensified, with critics urging more flexibility in applying the rules.
What Comes Next?
As Real Madrid moves forward in the Champions League, UEFA’s discussions with FIFA and IFAB could lead to potential rule changes for future competitions. The Julian Alvarez penalty controversy has once again ignited the debate over VAR’s influence in modern football and how referees interpret the laws of the game.
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