The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg encounter between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid turned chaotic after a contentious VAR decision saw Julián Álvarez’s penalty disallowed.
The ruling, which played a pivotal role in Atlético’s elimination, triggered widespread debate among fans, analysts, and even Atlético manager Diego Simeone.
The Controversial Decision
During the dramatic penalty shootout at the Metropolitano Stadium, Álvarez appeared to have successfully converted his spot-kick. However, celebrations were cut short when VAR intervened to review the strike. Upon closer examination, replays indicated that Álvarez had unintentionally made two touches—one with his right foot and a second accidental contact with his standing left foot—before the ball entered the net. As per the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules, this constituted a violation, leading to referee Szymon Marciniak awarding Real Madrid an indirect free-kick instead of a goal.
Simeone’s Outburst: ‘Raise Your Hand If You Saw It’
Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone did not hold back his frustration, questioning the legitimacy of the call in his post-match press conference.
“Raise your hand if you saw the ball move twice,” Simeone challenged reporters, his frustration evident. “We can watch the replay a thousand times, but who in real-time actually noticed? These are the kinds of decisions that change games.”
Atlético fans took to social media in protest, with many accusing UEFA of favouring Real Madrid. The term “historic robbery” trended online as supporters pointed to past controversial calls benefiting the Spanish giants in European competitions.
Impact on the Match
The overturned goal proved costly for Atlético. With the shootout still in balance, Marcos Llorente missed his penalty, while Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger converted the decisive kick, sealing a 4-2 shootout victory and booking their spot in the quarterfinals.
A History of Double Touch Penalties
While rare, disallowed penalties due to double touches have occurred before. Notable examples include:
- Riyad Mahrez (2019, Leicester City vs. Manchester City): Mahrez’s penalty was disallowed when he unintentionally struck the ball twice due to a slip.
- Aleksandar Mitrović (2021, Serbia vs. Portugal): VAR ruled out Mitrović’s penalty after he slipped, causing an accidental second touch before scoring.
- John Egan (2021, Sheffield United): His penalty was ruled out for a similar double contact violation.
Despite these precedents, the decision against Álvarez has fueled debates on VAR’s growing influence and whether such fine margins should decide crucial Champions League knockout matches.
What’s Next?
Real Madrid advances to the quarterfinals, but the controversy surrounding Álvarez’s disallowed goal is likely to remain a talking point for years. As the Champions League progresses, questions over the consistency and fairness of VAR interventions will continue to dominate discussions in European football.