Real Madrid’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-Finals secured by Julián Álvarez’s unexpected penalty shootout miss. Real Madrid’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals was secured following an unexpected penalty shootout miss by Julián Álvarez. While the disallowed penalty incident remains a topic of debate, UEFA has now made its final ruling.
As always, the Madrid derby was marked by major events. On Wednesday, during the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 at the Civitas Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid was eliminated through the back door by their city rivals. With an aggregate score of 2-2 over both legs (2-1 in the first leg and 0-1 in the second), the two teams had to battle for a quarter-final spot against Arsenal in a penalty shootout. During this decisive moment, Julián Álvarez, Atlético’s forward who had relentlessly exhausted Real Madrid’s defenders, took an astonishing shot.
UEFA’s clear statement
Initially awarded, the penalty was reviewed at the insistence of Real Madrid players. To Julián Álvarez’s dismay, the goal was overturned and ruled a miss due to a double touch at the moment of the strike. According to Archivo VAR, the decision made by the Polish referees, notably Szymon Marciniak, who was the main official, was justified. Despite this significant ruling, Atlético Madrid demanded an official inquiry from UEFA and awaited its final verdict.
On Thursday, European football’s governing body broke its silence. On its official website, UEFA published a new video of Álvarez’s penalty, accompanied by a statement confirming that the Argentine did indeed make two contacts with the ball, leading the referee to enforce the rules and disallow the goal. “Atlético Madrid inquired with UEFA about the incident that led to the cancellation of Julián Álvarez’s penalty at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid,” the statement from European football’s governing body reads.
“The goal had to be disallowed”
“Although minimal, the player touched the ball with his standing foot before striking it, as shown in the attached video. According to the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), VAR was required to inform the referee that the goal had to be disallowed,” UEFA confirmed. Furthermore, the organisation, led by Aleksander Čeferin, stated that steps would be taken to possibly review the rule. “UEFA will initiate discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be amended in cases where an accidental double touch occurs.“
In any case, the ruling is clear. There is no need for controversy over Real Madrid’s qualification, as they should have secured victory within 90 minutes or, at the latest, in extra time. Atlético Madrid should not dwell on regrets regarding the manner of their elimination. In the quarter-finals, they will need to significantly improve against Arsenal’s Gunners, who boast a much more complete attack and defence. Jorge Valdano, a living legend of Los Blancos, warns that caution will be necessary in the next round.
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