Following criticism surrounding Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty after VAR stepped in to suggest the Argentine made double contact during Atletico Madrid’s penalty shootout loss to rival Real Madrid, UEFA has now issued a statement.
Diego Simeone was furious on Wednesday night after Alvarez’s penalty, which had been scored in regular time before to VAR’s involvement, was chalked out. This caused confusion for the center-forward. He addressed his teammates, saying:
It might be. It might be, but I’m not sure.
Alvarez slipped at the point of contact while attempting to accept the penalty. VAR determined that his left boot had impacted with the ball before striking the back of the net, which is why the goal was disallowed.
New Evidence Released by UEFA
Amid the outcry, new, slowed-down footage has surfaced.
Christina Unkel, a rules specialist, has also used her extensive expertise to comment on the debate when the call finally led to Atletico’s early departure after 120 minutes of exhausting play against Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
According to her, the solution cannot be determined by examining and concentrating on the variety of accessible views. In truth, VAR enjoys the benefit of employing 26 cameras to track limb motions and a camera on the ball at all times.
Now that Atletico is debating whether to appeal the ruling, UEFA has made public fresh evidence that they consider to be as convincing as possible as to why referee Szymon Marciniak finally disallowed Alvarez’s penalty.
As can be seen below, Alvarez beats Thibaut Courtois easily after his left boot, which he intended to place next to the ball, slips into the ball and alters the trajectory of his right foot’s subsequent contact with the ball.
🚨 NEW VIDEO RELEASED BY UEFA 🚨
pic.twitter.com/NbqvaxxWAf— The Screenshot Lad (@thescreenlad) March 13, 2025
UEFA Set to Enter Discussions with FIFA and IFAB
Under the current rules, UEFA back the decision
🚨 OFFICIAL: UEFA statement on Julián Álvarez penalty.
“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”.… pic.twitter.com/wOPeMpkzf6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 13, 2025
Atletico Madrid contacted UEFA over the event that resulted in Julian Alvarez’s penalty kick at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Real Madrid being disallowed, according to a statement issued by UEFA.
As seen in the attached video clip, the player made minimal contact with the ball with his standing foot before kicking it. The statement went on to say that the VAR has to tell the referee that the goal should be disallowed in accordance with the current regulation (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1).
However, UEFA has also stated that if the double touch is shown to be “clearly intentional,” future talks with FIFA and IFAB, two of football’s top rule makers, will consider the possibility of a rule change.
In situations when a double contact is obviously unintended, UEFA will start talking with FIFA and IFAB to see if the regulation has to be changed.
It remains to be seen if Simeone and his group a) decide to and b) succeed in any possible appeals over the expensive decision, but Real Madrid is now scheduled to play Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.
