Atlético Madrid’s Champions League exit came with controversy, as their inquiry into Julián Álvarez’s disallowed penalty against Real Madrid prompted an official response from UEFA.
Following the dramatic shootout, Atlético questioned why Álvarez’s penalty was ruled out, and UEFA has now clarified the decision. According to their statement, the Argentine striker unintentionally made contact with the ball using his standing foot before striking it—a violation under the current laws of the game. The VAR team alerted the referee, leading to the goal being disallowed.
Though minimal, the double touch was clear on video, leaving UEFA with no choice but to uphold the rule. However, in light of the incident, the governing body has announced discussions with FIFA and IFAB about whether unintentional double touches should still result in disallowed goals.
For now, the ruling stands, and Atlético must accept yet another painful European exit at the hands of their city rivals. Whether this sparks a rule change in the future remains to be seen.
