UEFA has responded to the heated controversy surrounding Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League shootout loss to Real Madrid.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, has sparked widespread debate and calls for a review of penalty laws.
Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, inadvertently touching the ball twice—first with his standing foot and then with his strike. Initially believed to be a goal, VAR intervened to disallow it, citing the current Laws of the Game (Law 14.1).
The decision left Atletico fans at the Metropolitano Stadium confused and frustrated, as their team ultimately lost the shootout 4-2 to their city rivals.
In a statement released less than 24 hours later, UEFA confirmed the decision was correct under existing rules, sharing video evidence to support the call.
However, acknowledging the backlash, UEFA announced plans to engage FIFA and IFAB in discussions on whether the rule should be revised in cases of unintentional double touches.
“Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it,” UEFA explained. “Under the current rule, VAR had to call the referee to signal that the goal should be disallowed.”
The ruling has reignited debate about the fairness of current penalty rules, with critics pointing out that goalkeepers stepping off their lines often get second chances, while penalty-takers are penalized for accidental slips.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone openly questioned the decision in his press conference, calling for clarity and consistency in the application of the rules.
