UEFA, the governing body of European football, has released an official statement addressing the controversial disallowance of a penalty taken by Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez during a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Real Madrid on March 12, 2025. The decision, which occurred during a tense penalty shootout at the Wanda Metropolitano, has sparked widespread debate among fans, pundits, and officials, prompting UEFA to clarify the ruling and hint at a potential review of the laws governing penalty kicks.
The incident took place in the shootout following a 1-0 Atlético Madrid victory in regular time, which leveled the aggregate score at 2-2 after Real Madrid’s 2-1 win in the first leg. With the match proceeding to penalties, Álvarez stepped up for Atlético’s second attempt. The Argentine striker appeared to score, beating Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but the goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review determined that Álvarez had touched the ball twice—once with his standing left foot and again with his kicking right foot—before it crossed the line.
In its statement, UEFA explained: “Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julián Álvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. Although the contact was minimal, the player made contact with the ball with his standing foot before striking it, as shown in the video evidence provided.” UEFA also released new footage alongside the statement, offering a clearer angle that shows Álvarez’s left foot brushing the ball prior to his shot.
The decision adhered strictly to Law 14 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which states that a penalty kick must be taken with a single touch, and any double contact by the kicker results in the kick being ruled invalid. However, UEFA acknowledged that the double touch appeared unintentional, as Álvarez slipped slightly during his run-up, leading to the incidental contact.
The controversy has reignited discussions about the rigidity of the current penalty rules, particularly in cases where the double touch is unintentional and does not provide a clear advantage. In response, UEFA announced that it will raise the issue with FIFA, the global governing body of football, and IFAB, the body responsible for determining the laws of the game. “UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional,” the statement added.
The match ultimately ended with Real Madrid advancing to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory in the shootout, thanks to successful kicks from Federico Valverde and Antonio Rüdiger, despite a miss from Lucas Vázquez. Atlético’s Marcos Llorente also missed his attempt, sealing the fate of the home side. Real Madrid will now face Arsenal in the next round.
The Álvarez penalty ruling has divided opinions. Some argue that the strict enforcement of the rule is necessary to maintain consistency, while others, including prominent pundits, contend that the law fails to account for human error and intent, penalizing players unfairly in high-stakes moments. Social media platforms, including X, have seen an outpouring of reactions, with some fans calling for a rule change and others defending the referee’s decision as technically correct.
UEFA’s decision to release additional footage and commit to discussions with FIFA and IFAB suggests that the Álvarez incident could serve as a catalyst for broader changes in football’s laws. While no timeline for these discussions was provided, the move has been welcomed by those advocating for a more nuanced approach to penalty kick regulations.