UEFA is set to reconsider the penalty kick rule after a controversial incident during the Champions League Round of 16 encounter between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid on Thursday. The debate was sparked when Atlético’s Julián Álvarez had his penalty disallowed due to an unintentional double touch, raising concerns over the fairness of the regulation.

What Happened?

The incident occurred during the penalty shootout following a 2-2 aggregate draw between the two Spanish rivals. Álvarez stepped up as Atlético’s fourth penalty taker and appeared to have successfully converted his spot-kick. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, determining that he had inadvertently made slight contact with the ball using his standing foot before striking it with his right foot.

According to Article 14.1 of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) Laws of the Game, a penalty taker "must not play the ball again until it has touched another player." Since Álvarez technically touched the ball twice, VAR advised the referee to disallow the goal after reviewing the footage, despite the evidence being inconclusive.

Real Madrid went on to win the shootout 4-2, eliminating Atlético from the 2024-25 Champions League. Atlético Madrid’s manager, Diego Simeone, expressed his frustration, stating that he had never seen VAR intervene in such a case before and questioning whether the double touch was truly evident. Fans also criticised the decision, arguing that the reversal of the goal was unnecessary and overly harsh.

Why is the Rule Under Review?

Although the rule has been in place for years, this was a rare occasion where VAR was used to overturn a penalty goal due to an unintentional double touch, particularly in a high-stakes knockout match. Given the minimal contact—if any—and the absence of clear intent, UEFA acknowledged the controversy and announced that it would consult with FIFA and IFAB to assess whether the rule should be amended.

In an official statement, UEFA explained:

"Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA regarding the incident that led to the disallowance of the penalty taken by Julián Álvarez at the conclusion of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid.

"Although the contact was minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before striking it, as confirmed in the attached video clip. Under the current Laws of the Game (Law 14.1), VAR was obliged to notify the referee that the goal should be disallowed.

"UEFA will engage in discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reassessed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional."

UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Final Fixtures

The Champions League quarter-final first legs are scheduled for 8-9 April, with the return legs set for 15-16 April. The final will take place on 31 May at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

• Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan

• Arsenal vs Real Madrid

• Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund

• Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa