UEFA Backs VAR and Marciniak, But Alvarez Incident Sparks Potential Rule Changes!

In a recent communication regarding Julian Alvarez’s controversial penalty situation in the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, UEFA has backed referee Marciniak and the VAR’s decision, despite acknowledging that Alvarez’s touch prior to the kick was quite slight. The governing body also hinted at the potential for revising the rule, signalling a willingness to engage in discussions with FIFA and IFAB, the authority overseeing football regulations.

Atletico Madrid had sought clarity from UEFA concerning the cancellation of Alvarez’s penalty at the conclusion of the previous evening’s clash. The UEFA statement reveals that while the touch may have been minimal, it was confirmed that Alvarez indeed made contact with the ball using his standing foot prior to taking the shot, as demonstrated in the accompanying video—perhaps a small touch, but one that carries significant implications.

Per the current rules (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), VAR had no choice but to alert the referee about the necessity to annul the goal. Following this, UEFA plans to initiate discussions with FIFA and IFAB to ascertain whether the rule ought to be tweaked, particularly in circumstances where a double touch is evidently unintentional.