VOTE: Double touch or VAR blunder? Have your say on Julian Alvarez penalty shoot-out drama during Atletico v Real Madrid
Updated 13/03/2025 at 17:07 GMT
One name is on everyone's lips after Real Madrid's crazy penalty shoot-out win over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League: Julian Alvarez. The Argentine saw his spot-kick cruelly ruled out after VAR judged that he had touched the ball twice. Inevitably, the debate is raging over whether: a) Alvarez did actually touch the ball twice, and b) whether the current rules are fair. Have your say!
‘Surely not!’ – VAR rules out Alvarez penalty in shoot-out for double touch
Video credit: TNT Sports
Debate is raging after Julian Alvarez saw his penalty controversially ruled out for a double touch during Atletico Madrid's brutal shoot-out defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Alvarez looked to have levelled the shoot-out at 2-2 despite slipping, sending his penalty into the roof of the net. But VAR had other ideas.
After a brief consultation over his mic, referee Szymon Marciniak signalled that the goal had been disallowed for a double touch. "Oh my word, surely not on a night like this can it be decided by that. Don't tell me that," said a disbelieving Steve McManaman on TNT Sports commentary.
It proved pivotal. Although Jan Oblak saved from Lucas Vazquez to haul Atletico back into the tie, another miss for Marcos Llorente handed Antonio Rudiger the chance to send Real into the last eight. The German obliged, albeit only just, as his effort squirmed through Oblak's gloves and into the net.
However, the story refuses to go away, with hordes of people insisting that Alvarez didn't touch the ball twice - while others are complaining that the rules are desperately unfair.
So what do you think? Here's the dramatic moment again, slowed down. Watched it? Good, read on to cast your votes...
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A closer look at Alvarez's disallowed penalty
Video credit: TNT Sports
Did Alvarez touch the ball twice?
Even after slowing the incident down, frame by frame, it's not 100% conclusive that Alvarez kicked the ball twice - although the ball does appear to shift milliseconds before he makes contact with his right foot.
Should the penalty have been disallowed?
Given no player would deliberately try and kick the ball twice - the benefits of potentially fooling the goalkeeper are far outweighed by the negatives of getting it all wrong - was the decision fair?
Should the rules change?
And regardless of whether the rules were followed correctly, it raises a wider issue around VAR.
Was it really introduced to analyse inconclusive moments frame by frame, or does this sort of nit-picking harm the game?
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