Thierry Henry has spoken out about the controversial VAR call surrounding Julian Alvarez’s penalty against Real Madrid in their Champions League shootout.
On Wednesday night at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Argentine forward Alvarez stepped up to take Atletico Madrid’s second penalty in their shootout against rivals Real Madrid. After initially scoring his spot kick, Alvarez was controversially denied by VAR as officials ruled he had made contact with the ball twice.
Multiple angles of the incident have since circulated on social media, with some showing what appears to be the faintest of touches from Alvarez’s standing foot as he struck the ball.
Henry’s Verdict on the Double-Touch Controversy
Speaking on CBS Sports after the match, former Arsenal and France star Henry discussed the incident alongside fellow pundit Micah Richards.
"It is very difficult to see… but he does [touch the ball]," Henry stated when reviewing the footage.
After Richards labeled the decision as "harsh," Henry questioned: "Isn’t that the rule?"
Richards responded: "Okay it’s the rules but it’s still harsh. We’re talking the slightest of touches."
At this point, presenter Kate Scott (formerly Kate Abdo) weighed in, adding: "Even blown up I find that very hard to see…"
Henry then continued his analysis: "If they’ve called it, I would think they would have liked to have seen it." When asked if he felt the double touch was clear, the Frenchman replied confidently: "I think it was."
The Arsenal legend further elaborated on his position:
- "There is something that I would like to know, if Julian Alvarez complained."
- "Usually the players’ reaction will tell you."
- "You know when you’ve scored a penalty or not… your first reaction is a real expression of ‘I didn’t do anything’."
- "If he did touch it twice, that’s the rule."
Impact on the Champions League Path
The controversial penalty decision had major implications for the tournament’s progression. As a result of their win over Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid will now face Premier League giants Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
The first leg will take place on April 8 at the Emirates Stadium, setting up what promises to be a thrilling encounter between two European powerhouses.
This contentious VAR intervention adds to the growing debate about technology’s role in modern football. While designed to eliminate clear errors, incidents like Alvarez’s penalty show how even the most minute infractions can now be detected and punished, often changing the course of high-stakes matches.
For Atletico Madrid, this will feel like a bitter way to exit Europe’s premier competition, especially at the hands of their city rivals. For Real Madrid, they continue their quest for yet another Champions League trophy, though questions about the decisive penalty call will linger.
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AI-generated image description: [Julian Alvarez looking disappointed after his penalty was disallowed during the Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.]