UEFA Clarifies Julian Alvarez’s Controversial Penalty Decision in Champions League Drama
UEFA has issued an official statement regarding Julian Alvarez’s disputed penalty kick during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League last 16 elimination against Real Madrid. The incident became a focal point of controversy in what was otherwise a tightly contested Madrid derby.
Atletico Madrid forced the match to penalties after securing a 1-0 victory in the second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano. Conor Gallagher found the net in the opening minute for Diego Simeone’s squad, who nearly clinched victory in regulation time through Angel Correa’s effort.
With aggregate scores level, the tie proceeded to penalty shootout where Real Madrid prevailed 4-2, booking their quarter-final encounter with Arsenal.
The Controversial Double-Touch Decision Explained
The controversy centered around Alvarez’s penalty attempt, which initially appeared successful as the ball sailed past Thibaut Courtois. However, VAR officials intervened and disallowed the goal after determining the Argentinian striker had illegally made contact with the ball using both feet during his kick.
Post-match analysis sparked heated debate as multiple camera angles emerged showing the moment of contact, with supporters divided on whether a double touch actually occurred.
UEFA has now provided clarification on their decision-making process, confirming that:
- The determination was made solely by VAR officials
- No additional sensors or technology were utilized to assist the decision
- The call was based entirely on video review of available angles
Interestingly, it was Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe who first spotted and claimed the potential infraction immediately after Alvarez took the kick.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone expressed frustration but maintained restraint in his criticism of the officials after the match. “I just saw the image of the penalty. The referee said that, when Julian stepped and kicked, he touched the ball with his foot. But the ball didn’t move,” Simeone remarked.
He further added: “That’s something to discuss about whether it was a goal or not, but I’m proud of my players. When he plants his foot and kicks, the ball doesn’t move, even a little bit. But if VAR called it, I’ve never seen a penalty called by VAR, but it’s still valid, and they’ll have seen that he touched it.”
This decision proved pivotal in the knockout fixture, as Real Madrid capitalized on the opportunity to advance in their Champions League campaign, while Atletico’s European journey came to a controversial end.
| Team | Result | Next Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | Advanced (4-2 on penalties) | Quarter-finals vs Arsenal |
| Atletico Madrid | Eliminated | – |
The incident has reignited debate about VAR implementation in crucial moments and whether additional technological assistance is needed for such match-defining decisions in high-stakes European competitions.
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