Julian Alvarez penalty controversy could spark UEFA rule change after Atletico Madrid exit to Real Madrid
The Julian Alvarez penalty controversy rumbles on and it could even spark a change in the UEFA rules. Real Madrid prevailed on penalties after the two-legged tie with Atletico Madrid finished 2-2 on aggregate after extra time. Atletico were dumped out of the Champions League by their arch rivals in the worst possible fashionGetty Alvarez touched the ball twice before it hit the net – which is against the rulesTNT Sports The shootout was ultimately decided by a cruel twist of fate for Atletico striker Julian Alvarez – who converted his spot-kick, but did so illegally. Alvarez slipped before making contact with the ball – and replays showed the Argentinian touched it twice as he fell. The Real Madrid players immediately protested, before VAR told referee Szymon Marciniak to disallow the penalty. According to the IFAB (International Football Association Board) rules of the game, law 14.1 covers penalties. It states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.” However, speaking on commentary for TNT Sports, ex-England midfielder Steve McManaman claimed fans inside the Wanda Metropolitano did not know Alvarez’s effort had gone down as a miss. “The fans around me have no idea,” McManaman said. Lucas Vazquez offered Atletico a lifeline by missing his spot-kick, but Marcos Llorente then hit the bar. In a dramatic conclusion, Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger stepped up to net the decisive penalty, although goalkeeper Jan Oblak came so close to saving it. In a statement on Thursday, UEFA confirmed that it would look at the rules. It 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 Alvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. “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 will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.” Madrid will now face Arsenal in the last eight after the Gunners beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate. Match Stats Atletico entered the second leg 2-1 down but immediately levelled things up as Conor Gallagher struck inside the opening minute. Madrid star Vinicius Jr scuppered the chance to win the tie in normal chance by blasting a penalty over the bar in the second-half. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and Kylian Mbappe stepped up for the first spot-kick, duly converting by sending Oblak the wrong way. Alexander Sorloth and Jude Bellingham followed suit, before Alvarez suffered his own John Terry moment. Federico Valverde put Madrid in control before Angel Correa kept Atletico’s hopes alive. Llorente had the chance to level things up and save Alvarez’s blushes after the miss from Vazquez – and Oblak could have stopped Rudiger’s penalty after guessing correctly and getting a firm hand to it. Rudiger’s winning penalty sparked scenes of jubilation among the Madrid teamGetty Atletico were left dejected after yet more European heartbreak at the hands of their rivalsGetty But in the end, it was a familiar story for Diego Simeone, as Atletico were dumped out of the Champions League by their neighbours for the fifth time. It was also the sixth time the Madrid rivals have contested a penalty shootout in their history – and Real have won every single one. The Argentine boss rallied his dejected players for a lap of honour around the Wanda Metropolitano while Madrid celebrated wildly in the corner.
The Julian Alvarez penalty controversy rumbles on and it could even spark a change in the UEFA rules.
Real Madrid prevailed on penalties after the two-legged tie with Atletico Madrid finished 2-2 on aggregate after extra time.
The shootout was ultimately decided by a cruel twist of fate for Atletico striker Julian Alvarez – who converted his spot-kick, but did so illegally.
Alvarez slipped before making contact with the ball – and replays showed the Argentinian touched it twice as he fell.
The Real Madrid players immediately protested, before VAR told referee Szymon Marciniak to disallow the penalty.
According to the IFAB (International Football Association Board) rules of the game, law 14.1 covers penalties.
It states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”
However, speaking on commentary for TNT Sports, ex-England midfielder Steve McManaman claimed fans inside the Wanda Metropolitano did not know Alvarez’s effort had gone down as a miss.
“The fans around me have no idea,” McManaman said.
Lucas Vazquez offered Atletico a lifeline by missing his spot-kick, but Marcos Llorente then hit the bar.
In a dramatic conclusion, Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger stepped up to net the decisive penalty, although goalkeeper Jan Oblak came so close to saving it.
In a statement on Thursday, UEFA confirmed that it would look at the rules.
It 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 Alvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid.
“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 will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.”
Madrid will now face Arsenal in the last eight after the Gunners beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate.
Atletico entered the second leg 2-1 down but immediately levelled things up as Conor Gallagher struck inside the opening minute.
Madrid star Vinicius Jr scuppered the chance to win the tie in normal chance by blasting a penalty over the bar in the second-half.
The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and Kylian Mbappe stepped up for the first spot-kick, duly converting by sending Oblak the wrong way.
Alexander Sorloth and Jude Bellingham followed suit, before Alvarez suffered his own John Terry moment.
Federico Valverde put Madrid in control before Angel Correa kept Atletico’s hopes alive.
Llorente had the chance to level things up and save Alvarez’s blushes after the miss from Vazquez – and Oblak could have stopped Rudiger’s penalty after guessing correctly and getting a firm hand to it.
But in the end, it was a familiar story for Diego Simeone, as Atletico were dumped out of the Champions League by their neighbours for the fifth time.
It was also the sixth time the Madrid rivals have contested a penalty shootout in their history – and Real have won every single one.
The Argentine boss rallied his dejected players for a lap of honour around the Wanda Metropolitano while Madrid celebrated wildly in the corner.
