UEFA and FIFA make crucial rule change after Champions League controversy

Football’s lawmakers Ifab have confirmed a change following Julian Alvarez’s “double touch” penalty being disallowed in Atletico Madrid’s shootout defeat to Real in the Champions League

The “double touch” penalty rules have been changed after the controversy that engulfed Julian Alvarez’s disallowed kick in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League knockout defeat to neighbours Real.

Former Man City star Alvarez had his attempt from 12 yards ruled out after appearing to accidentally touch the ball twice. Thousands of Atletico fans had celebrated the goal and the scoreboard inside the Wanda Metropolitano showed that the shootout was level at 2-2.

However after Real stars protested referee Szymon Marciniak made the decision to rule out the goal following a VAR review before Real subsequently progressed to the quarter-finals, where they were outclassed by Arsenal.

Atletico, via La Liga, had submitted a complaint about the rule following their round of 16 exit. And from now on such slips will see kicks retaken after the game’s lawmakers IFAB confirmed a change.

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Article 14.1 of the laws of the game which 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.”

But in a circular memo released by Ifab, clarifications have been provided around the rare instances of a “double touch”.

“(When) the penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick: If the kick is successful, it is retaken,” the memo said.

“If the kick is unsuccessful, an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee plays advantage when it clearly benefits the defending team) or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), the kick is recorded as missed.”

IFAB added that it was “understandable” that referees had up until now decided to disallow spot-kicks scored in such situations. It said that the “clarified procedures are effective for competitions starting on or after 1 July” but can be applied this month – including for the Club World Cup which begins next week.

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