UEFA have confirmed that Julian Alvarez’s penalty against Real Madrid was disallowed solely by a video assistant referee (VAR) and that no in-ball technology was used.
The Atletico Madrid forward thought he had scored from the spot during the penalty shootout in his side’s Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat on Wednesday.
However, it was later deemed that the 25-year-old’s standing left foot made contact with the ball before he scored from an effort with his right.
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone was left angered by the decision and claimed there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field referee’s initial call.
“The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” he told reporters after the game.
“I’ve never seen a penalty where they’ve called the VAR, but well, they would have seen that he touched it. I want to believe they saw he touched it.
“Did you see him touching the ball twice? Please, whoever was present in the stadium and saw him touching the ball twice, the ball moving, please come forward and raise your hand. I don’t see anybody with their hand raised so that’s all I have to say… next question.”
Alvarez’s penalty was ruled out despite initially being awarded (Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The IFAB (International Football Association Board) laws of the game prohibit the player taking the penalty kick from playing the ball twice before it has touched another player, the ball stops moving or goes out of play.
Article 14.1 reads: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.
“The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.”
The rule was designed to stop players from dribbling towards goal from a penalty kick and was applied in January 2023 when then-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic slipped as he went to strike the penalty against Newcastle United and kicked it into his standing leg.
Mitrovic’s penalty goal was disallowed and a free-kick was awarded to Newcastle.
UEFA introduced in-ball technology for Euro 2024 last summer to help improve the accuracy and speed of decision making.
European football’s governing body have confirmed to The Athletic that no in-ball technology was used to assist in overturning the decision to award Alvarez’s penalty with the new system only in place for the men’s and women’s European Championships but not the Champions League.
The decision was made solely using cameras in the stadium. The semi-automated offside system in place also utilises cameras only.
Real Madrid will now play Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with the fixtures to be played over April 8 and April 16.
(Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
