Julian Alvarez's penalty controversy sparks outrage on social media, Atletico Madrid fans say, ¡®Can¡¯t compete with this corruption'

The clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, March 13, 2025, in the Champions League was intense, dramatic, and gripping. Moreover, the match culminated in a controversial moment during the shootout.

Atletico Madrid player Julian Alvarez's penalty during the shootout in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg was disallowed and was proved to be the decisive moment. As a result, Real Madrid managed to secure a 5-4 win on penalties after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.

But what happened?

Why was Alvarez's penalty cancelled?

In a twist of events during the match, Julian Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, which caused a double touch that led to the cancellation of the goal. Following this, a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was asked, which disallowed the goal.

The decision by the VAR prompted frustration among the home crowd present at the stadium. Not only this, but fans also took to social media to express their disapproval of the decision, calling it 'corruption and cheating.'.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Despite slipping, Julian Alvarez thought he had scored his penalty kick.

But after a VAR intervention, it was ruled out after it hit the net for a double touch.#UCL

? @footballontnt pic.twitter.com/cnoGYZVC2y

¡ª The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) March 12, 2025

Real Madrid head coach believes the VAR decision was correct

On the other hand, the head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, believes that the video assistant referee made the correct decision on Julian Alvarez's penalty.

Ancelotti, while speaking after the match, admitted that he was initially confused about the situation but later reviewed the footage and concluded that the VAR took the right call.

"I think the referees had already spotted it on VAR when we realised. I didn't see it initially, but it looks like he did touch it with his left foot when I watched it back," Ancelotti said.

Credit: X

The replays of the video showed that his left foot made minor contact with the ball before Alvarez fired it in with his right.

But what does the rulebook say?

According to Article 14.1 of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) laws of the game, which govern the penalties, note that "the kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.¡±

Since Alvarez took two touches, his penalty kick is said to be cancelled.

However, the Atleti coach, Diego Simeone, looked furious on the ground with the VAR decision and questioned the controversial call. ¡°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," he said.

Julian Alvarez disallowed penalty due to double touch leads to UCL exit
byu/TransitionMany1810 insports

Fans discuss the rule book

Shocked and heartbroken, Atleti fans react to Alvarez's penalty shootout. one wrote, "The entire real Madrid squad is set up to satisfy vini Jr's ego. Mark my words in no other club in the world will a player who scored three penalties in on literally the biggest stage in all of sport, not even football, would win the penalty and not take it in a knockout game."

"Jesus how did they see that. I can't see the ball moving"

Comment
byu/AlmostNL from discussion
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"There is offside technology where they can tell where the limbs are, he 100% touched it twice. But yes it is hard to see from the shown. I guess you need to see it from the front," another wrote.

"We can't compete with this corruption What about retake?"

We can't compete with this corruption
What about retake ?

¡ª Austine? ? (@Austinooffical) March 12, 2025

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