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Atletico vs Real Madrid penalty drama: Why Julian Alvarez’s spot kick was ruled out by VAR

Atlético Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League by bitter rivals Real Madrid in hugely controversial circumstances after the VAR ruled out Julián Alvarez’s penalty kick in the shoot-out.

Real, the defending European champions, sneaked through to the quarter-finals after being taken all the way courtesy of a Conor Gallagher goal after just 27 seconds, the fastest goal scored by an Englishman in Champions League history.

Gallagher’s effort tied the aggregate score at 1-1 after Real’s slender victory in the first leg, with nothing separating the teams across 180 minutes, as well as 30 minutes of extra time.

That deadlock appeared to have continued after the fourth penalty effort, but the drama was only just about to begin unfolding.

What happened?

After Kylian Mbappé opened the shoot-out with an emphatic finish, replacement Alexander Sorloth levelled with Atlético’s attempt.

Jude Bellingham then mirrored Mbappé’s effort with a thumping strike that left Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak with no chance of saving it, putting the pressure on former Manchester City striker Alvarez to reply.

Despite slipping as he struck his penalty, the Argentina forward managed to keep the ball beneath the crossbar and found the roof of the net to level it up at 2-2. But as Federico Valverde made his way towards the area to take his penalty, referee Szymon Marciniak gestured to him that he was withholding play.

It was relayed through television commentators that a VAR check was ongoing over a potential double touch by Alvarez, with fellow Polish official Tomasz Kwiatkowski rechecking the effort and scrutinising the Atlético striker’s standing left foot.

Video footage appeared inconclusive, but Kwiatkowski evidently saw enough to rule Alvarez had either touched the ball before striking it or, more likely, kicked the ball into his standing foot before finding the net.

However, the message was not relayed to those in the stadium as Atlético fans continued to celebrate. But word quickly spread through the Real Madrid team via their coaching staff, as well as their supporters who could be heard loudly cheering.

There was hope for Atlético as Ángel Correa’s goal was then followed up by a crucial Oblak save from Lucas Vázquez, giving defender Marcos Llorente the opportunity to haul the home side back onto level terms.

But he could only blast his spot kick into the crossbar, leaving the stage set for Antonio Rüdiger to strike the winning penalty and book Real’s place in the last eight, where they will face Arsenal.

What do the rules say?

In the Fifa rulebook, the Laws of the Game, Law 10 – “Determining the outcome of a match” – states: “The [penalty] kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time.”

As Marciniak gestured at both feet when explaining his decision, he appeared to penalise Alvarez for touching the ball twice before the penalty had been completed.

There is no micro-chip in the ball, as there was at the previous World Cup and European Championship, and the decision was made via VAR using only television replays.

The reaction

Real players immediately went into a frenzy as they celebrated the victory via a record fourth shoot-out victory in the Champions League.

However, Vinicius Junior was seen taunting Atlético fans, prompting an angry reaction from several areas of the home support.

The Brazil international was targeted with jeering throughout the match, none more so than when he blazed a penalty in regular time high and wide of the goal, and he was booed off the field when substituted by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti in extra time minutes before the shoot-out.

Vinicius was seen pointing to the Champions League badge on the his jersey and then pointing to fans while making a zero sign, in recognition of Atlético’s record of having never won the European Cup, and then laid a Madrid shirt on the turf of the Metropolitano Stadium.

Former Real Madrid midfielder and co-commentator Steve McManaman supported the decision. “Oh my word please, that cannot happen on a night like this,” he said, before watching the replay. “It does doesn’t it? It comes off both feet. No goal.”

McManaman added: “Sometimes the best team doesn’t win. Sometimes you need a huge chunk of luck to go through. Real Madrid have had luck in spades tonight.

“Julián Alvarez slipping, an irregular kick disallowed. Antonio Rüdiger sneaking in the last kick. Just wow. They got away with it. You can see why Atlético Madrid feel like the underdogs. They have given their all and they are out.”

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