The question of whether Julian Alvarez made double contact during Atletico Madrid’s penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 has generated a great deal of debate. However, a previous UEFA ruling that may give Diego Simeone’s team some hope has now been revealed by Spanish media.
Although a rules expert has emphasised that VAR’s intervention was based on more than just video replays, there appears to be more uncertainty than comprehension surrounding the judgement. Many are therefore urging Atletico Madrid to challenge the ruling of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak.
At first look, it seems absurd to reverse anything after a game, especially when attention is now turning to the quarterfinals in April. Nonetheless, there is a precedent—a penalty that was retaken five days later—that feeds conjecture that a comparable result would be achievable.
Previous UEFA Decision Gives Atletico Madrid Hope
An unprecedented ruling saw England women’s captain retake a penalty five days later
The under-19 national teams of Norway and England faced off in a Women’s Elite Round encounter back in 2015 as part of the Euro 2015 qualifying tournament. In the 96th minute, England was given a penalty, but Norway was ahead 2-1 and in control.
Leah Williamson, the current captain of Arsenal Women, scored the penalty kick and started to celebrate, but German referee Marija Kurtes quickly disallowed it for encroaching. Due to an error, the penalty was not retaken, and Norway won the game. Watch the first event, which occurs at approximately 00:45, below:
Five days after the FA swiftly appealed the decision to UEFA, the governing body decided that the game should restart at the 96th minute, allowing for a retake of the penalty. It’s interesting to note that even though Williamson converted once again, the outcome ultimately didn’t matter because both sides moved on to the knockout stages after the draw.
The match lasted just eighteen seconds until the second full-time whistle blew, and Williamson later described the day of the retaken penalty as “the worst 24 hours of my life”. View the incident below:
🚨 In 2015, during the Women’s U19 Euro Qualifiers, England was awarded a penalty against Norway in the 96th minute. England scored, but the referee disallowed the goal due to area encroachment.
The English FA immediately appealed UEFA’s decision, and five days later, UEFA ruled… pic.twitter.com/E6BiBQcDiy
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 13, 2025
Given the peculiarity of that decision, it gives Atletico Madrid optimism that a similar one would be rendered in their case, possibly reviving their chances of making it to the Champions League semi-finals, where, if they win, they would face an injured Arsenal.
