UEFA planning talks on penalty rules after Julian Alvarez controversy

UEFA says it will hold talks with the game’s lawmakers after Julian Alvarez’s penalty had to be disallowed for a double touch (Manu Fernandez/AP) - (AP)

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”.

Real Madrid beat Atleti on penalties!#UCL pic.twitter.com/UyrD4WOz82

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 12, 2025

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.

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