Why was Julian Alvarez's penalty not retaken after double touch drama? | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid shootout spot-kick was ruled out by VAR on night of huge controversy against Real Madrid in the Champions League

Julian Alvarez's penalty was controversially ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) as Atletico Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League by rivals Real Madrid in a shootout at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.

More than a minute later, referee Polish referee Szymon Marciniak indicated that Alvarez's effort had been ruled out by the VAR for a double touch.

Replays suggested the forward's left foot may have made contact the ball before his shot but were not 100 per cent conclusive.

A VAR check ruled Alvarez had touched the ball with both feet as he slipped

REUTERS

After Federico Valverde's effort, the scoreboard in the ground continue to show 2-2, despite Real actually leading 3-1 at that point, leading to confusion inside the ground and fierce debate from those watching at home.

Although Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vazquez's spot-kick to give Diego Simeone's side hope, Marcos Llorente hit the bar for the hosts and Antonio Rudiger converted to ensure Real eliminated their rivals in a sixth straight knockout game in the competition.

Why was Julian Alvarez's penalty disallowed?

In IFAB's 2024-25 Laws of the Game, in describing the procedure of a penalty shootout it is stated: “[A penalty] kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time.”

The VAR on Wednesday recommended that the penalty should be disallowed and the VAR decision confirmed: “Atleti player, No19, double touched the ball when the penalty kick was taken.”

Referee Szymon Marciniak ruled out Alvarez’s penalty after intervention from VAR

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There is also a law concerning penalties stating: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”

This is the rule which prevents players from scoring a rebound if their own penalty hits the post.

Why was Julian Alvarez's penalty not retaken?

There is no option for a retake in the circumstances in the current rules, with the law stating that a penalties must be chalked off if a player touches the ball twice.

If the same happened from a penalty during regular play, an indirect free-kick would be awarded to the opposition.

Has this happened before?

There have twice been similar incidents in Premier League matches, albeit not during shootouts, of course.

In 2017, Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez had a spot-kick disallowed for touching the ball twice in his side's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, who he later joined.

The ball hit Mahrez's standing foot before looping into the net after the Algerian, like Alvarez, slipped as he went to strike his penalty.

In January 2023, Aleksandr Mitrovic also had a penalty ruled out for Fulham against his former club Newcastle for a double touch, the striker slipping while striking the ball in a 1-0 defeat for the Cottagers.