Alvarez’s Disallowed Goal: What IFAB’s Rulebook Says

Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League nike ja 1 scratch clash with Real Madrid has sparked controversy, with football fans debating the referee’s decision.

Atletico Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals after a dramatic Black Oversize blazer Balenciaga - Maison Mihara Yasuhiro logo-print sweatshirt - SchaferandweinerShops Japan 4-2 penalty shootout victory, following a 1-0 win in regulation and extra time.

Conor Gallagher’s first-minute goal had initially given Atletico the lead, but neither side could find another breakthrough in 120 minutes, leading to the shootout.

During the penalties, Alvarez slipped while taking his spot-kick but still managed to score.

However, VAR ruled out the goal, determining that he had touched the ball twice—once with his left foot after slipping and then with his right when striking it.

The decision led to intense discussions among fans and pundits, with Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone questioning the ruling.

The official rule states: “In IFAB’s 2024/25 Laws of the Game, in describing the procedure of a penalty shoot-out it is stated: ‘[A penalty] kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time.’”

Simeone, unconvinced, expressed his frustration in the post-match conference, stating, “The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move. 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. 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 hands raised so that’s all I have to say… next question.”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, on the other hand, backed the decision, saying, “They detected it. When we realised there was this doubt they had already detected it on VAR. I saw it, I think he touched it with his left foot, a second touch.”

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also supported the ruling, acknowledging that it was unfortunate for Atletico Madrid but in line with the laws of the game.

“I felt that there was something weird going on, so we said it straight to the referee and then it was confirmed Украина #135721706 , Высокие зимние кожаные кроссовки на меху that there was a double touch and it didn’t count, so that obviously gives us the edge. [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.”

A similar incident occurred in 2017 when Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez had a penalty disallowed for a double touch in a match against Manchester City.

Real Madrid will now face Arsenal in the quarter-finals on April 8 at the Emirates Stadium.