In the round of 16 series of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, there was significant controversy over the disallowed goal during the penalty shootout. UEFA confirmed the following day that the invalidation of Julián Álvarez's goal was in accordance with the current rule. The Atlético player took his shot after a dramatic action in which his left foot slipped before scoring the goal.
According to the Laws of the Game, in Rule 14.1, the VAR was obligated to inform the referee to disallow the goal due to the double touch on Julián Álvarez's kick. UEFA decided to publish an additional video that clearly shows Álvarez's two contacts with the ball, confirming the decision made on the field.
UEFA also informed that it will use this incident to initiate discussions with FIFA and IFAB about the possibility of modifying the rule that penalizes double touches in penalties if they are unintentional. Despite speculations about a potential advantage to Real Madrid by the officiating, UEFA reaffirmed that the decision made was correct after thoroughly analyzing all available images.
In the shared statement, it mentions that "Although it was minimal, the player made contact with the ball with the supporting foot before kicking," as seen in the additional video provided by UEFA. The controversy generated by this incident has led to reflections on possible changes in the regulations, demonstrating the importance of VAR technology in decision-making in elite football.
