Julian Alvarez’s pivotal penalty was controversially disallowed during Atletico Madrid’s shoot-out defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, raising questions among fans and analysts alike. The Argentine forward was second in line during the crucial penalty shoot-out after Atletico had battled back to level the aggregate score at 2-2.
Alvarez confidently approached the spot and struck the ball firmly beneath the crossbar, leaving Real’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, with no chance. However, a lengthy VAR check resulted in the penalty being disallowed, as officials ruled that he had contacted the ball with both feet while slipping.
According to the 2024/25 Laws of the Game, a penalty kick is considered completed only when the ball stops moving, goes out of play, or the referee intervenes for any infringement. The controversy surrounding Alvarez’s penalty ultimately proved significant, as Real Madrid advanced with a 4-2 victory in the shoot-out despite both teams missing several penalties.
During the tense shoot-out, referee Szymon Marciniak signaled the disallowed goal by pointing to his feet, leaving many in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium confused about the decision. Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone refrained from criticizing the officials but expressed skepticism over whether conclusive evidence supported the decision, suggesting the angle may not have clearly shown Alvarez’s standing leg touching the ball.
Simeone stated, “When he plants his foot and kicks, the ball doesn’t move, even a little bit. If VAR called it, they must have seen something.” His remarks came after sharing his perception of the incident with reporters, inviting them to weigh in on the decision.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper confirmed that he had alerted the referee to the incident, stating, “I felt that he touched the ball twice, and I told the referee. It’s not easy to see that, but it was unfortunate for them.”
As the dust settles on this contentious moment, the implications for both teams continue to draw attention, with fans eagerly dissecting the regulations surrounding penalty takings in the dynamic world of football.
