The return leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Atletico and Real Madrid ended in favour of the defending champion when Antonio Rudiger converted the decisive penalty in the shootout.

Though Atletico midfielder Conor Gallagher’s early strike had restored parity on aggregate, neither side could find an upper hand in 120 minutes of play, taking the match to spot kicks, where Real won 4-2.

However, the game was marred by controversy, as Atletico forward Julian Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

Why was Julian Alvarez’s penalty disallowed?

Alvarez took the second penalty for his side. Though he slipped, he comfortably beat Thibaut Courtois, the Real goalkeeper.

The goal was disallowed when Polish referee Szymon Marciniak referred it to the VAR, who chalked it out. A replay of the incident showed that the former Manchester City forward had touched the ball twice as he slipped while shooting.

What does the rule say?

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which determines the laws of football, there can be only one touch during the penalty kick.

Article 14.1 of the IFAB states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”

The same law prevents scoring on a rebound if the ball hits the woodwork.

If such an incident happened during a spot kick during regular play, an indirect free-kick would have been awarded to the opposition.

Has this happened before?

Yes. It happened thrice, with contrasting conclusions.

In 2017, Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez slipped during a penalty against Manchester City and his standing foot touched the ball before he converted the chance. However, the goal was ruled out.

Leicester City manager Claude Puel gives instructions to Riyad Mahrez during a Premier League match int he 2017-18 season.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

In 2023, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic accidentally kicked the ball onto his standing foot as he slipped before hitting the ball. The disallowed penalty saw the match end in a 0-1 loss against Newcastle United.

On the other hand, a goal from a penalty was given under similar circumstances in the Scottish top division in the same year.

Aberdeen forward Bojan Miovski seemed to have slipped before taking a late penalty against Saint Mirren, with an apparent double touch before the ball kissed the net, in a 2-2 draw.

A VAR review then ruled the goal legit.

What were the reactions after the game?

MANAGERS

Atletico manager Simeone remained doubtful of the decision but hoped the officials were correct.

“The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” he said after the match.

“I’ve never seen a penalty where they’ve called the VAR, but well, they would have seen that he touched it. I want to believe they saw he touched it.

Atletico manager Simeone remained doubtful of the decision but hoped the officials were correct.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS

“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,” Simeone added.

On the other hand, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti agreed the the right call was made. “They detected it. When we realised there was this doubt they had already detected it on VAR,” he added.

“I saw it, I think he touches it with his left foot, a second touch.”

PLAYERS

Courtois, who was at the receiving end of that goal, which was later disallowed, agreed with his coach.

“I felt that there was something weird going on, so we said it straight to the referee and then it was confirmed that there was a double touch and it didn’t count, so that obviously gives us the edge,” he told UEFA.com after the match.

“[Alvarez] slipped and he touched the ball twice and that is a missed penalty. You cannot touch the ball twice. That’s bad luck but it’s the rules.”

EXPERTS

Thierry Henry, an Arsenal legend and a FIFA World Cup 1998 winner with France, who works as a pundit as CBS’s Champions League Show, Sports Golazo, said that irrespective of what happens, rules are meant to be followed and that was the case here.

“If there was a touch, that’s the rule,” he said.

CBS Sports’ FIFA Rule expert Christina Unkel also explained that the technology within the ball allowed the decision to be made accurately.

“It’s the rule, it’s simple, it’s straight, it’s been touched. But one thing to also take into remembering of this is that the VAR also has the technology of semi-automated offside technology, where they are able to see at that kick point and have that extra technology to say when there is a touch on that ball.

“So every time we have a strike here, we have that ability for that. There’s not a chip in the ball, which is what we saw at the World Cup here, but with that extra layer of technology gives that additional sequencing.

“So from a VAR perspective, they’re taking a look at not just a video, but as well as the touch points where semi-automated has about 26 different cameras looking at limb tracking technology, as well as a camera that’s on the ball in and of itself, which gives that VAR the ability to be more concise and direct and know when that ball was actually touched outside from the naked eye as well.”

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given said on BBC Match of the Day, “Sometimes you see it happen where the ball is kicked off the other foot and then goes in a completely different direction.

“Here the ball doesn’t really change direction but [Alvarez] does kick the ball off his [right] foot. The laws of the game are clear.”