UEFA planning talks on penalty rules after Julian Alvarez controversy
The Atletico Madrid forward was deemed by VAR to have touched the ball twice as he fired in his penalty in a shoot-out against Real Madrid.
UEFA says it will hold talks with football’s lawmakers over the rules on double touches on penalty kicks after Atletico Madrid’s controversial Champions League exit.
Julian Alvarez was deemed by VAR to have touched the ball twice as he fired in his penalty in a shoot-out against Atleti’s city rivals Real Madrid, with the kick being disallowed.
Real went on to win the shoot-out 4-2. European football’s governing body said on Thursday that although the application of the law had been correct, it would “enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional”.
IFAB is the International Football Association Board, which sets the laws of football.
Law 14.1 states the kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player, with an indirect free-kick the sanction imposed when such an offence happens during regulation time.
A VAR review found Alvarez had touched the ball twice as he slipped in the process of taking his spot-kick.
“Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed,” UEFA said in a statement.
The IFAB and FIFA have been contacted for comment.
“Don’t be afraid to speak,” the Argentinian said.
“Are you afraid because you’re going to be punished? If you’re afraid, don’t say anything. Raise your hand if you think Julian knocked twice. No-one? No-one. OK.”
A senior UEFA executive told the PA news agency that talks with FIFA and IFAB on the double touch law would be “informal” initially, and added: “We will then see how the matter can be concretely addressed.”
A source close to IFAB said they were sure the law would be looked at and reviewed.
