Arsenal's transfer blueprint to end wait for EPL title

Ronaldo snatches the glory but Mendes is Portugal's hero

Liverpool's transfer priorities: Sign Wirtz but ditch Darwin!

Euro 2025 Power Rankings: England climb despite Spain loss

50 players who will define the summer transfer window

Editors' Picks

Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: This is Dembele's Golden Ball!

Martinez issues verdict on 'attitude' of Cristiano Ronaldo Jr

Osimhen eyes key future decision as two clubs fight for him

Transfers LIVE: Gyokeres' stance on Man Utd move revealed

Madrid must loan out Endrick to make room for Mastantuono

Mbappe and Cherki heroics not enough as France lose classic

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Alvarez had 'double touch' during UCL shootout</li><li>Goal chalked off before Real advanced</li><li>IFAB post change to penalty law</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n">Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'This is not justice!' - Atletico Madrid fans rage as IFAB announce major law change after Julian Alvarez 'double touch' penalty in Champions League defeat to Real Madrid

FIFA Club World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain

Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid

Al Hilal

Alvarez saw his effort in a Champions League round of 16 shootout against rivals Real Madrid chalked off due to a 'double touch'. The referee, Szymon Marciniak, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chip-ball-uefa-explains-controversial-julian-alvarez-penalty-call-var-input-atletico-champions-league-shootout-defeat-real-madrid/blt272a134734b67a6f" target="_blank">cited Law 14.1 of the game's regulations, </a>ruling that the Argentine had made illegal contact with the ball using both feet and subsequently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/atletico-madrid-julian-alvarez-penalty-disallowed-var-double-contact-real-madrid-shootout/bltbd78eeccbcc2672b" target="_blank">overturned the spot-kick after VAR intervention.</a>

WHAT HAPPENED?

However, IFAB has now clarified the rule and under the revised guidance, if a penalty taker unintentionally touches the ball with both feet — for example, due to a slip or misstep — and scores, the penalty must be retaken rather than ruled out. This change means that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/don-t-feel-touch-julian-alvarez-calls-for-uefa-rule-change-after-controversial-disallowed-penalty-atletico-shootout-loss-real-madrid/bltb4d779d1324742af" target="_blank">while deliberate infringements will still be punished</a>, those stemming from accidental movement or slips will no longer carry the same severe consequences.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A circular from IFAB read: "(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. 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.”It added: "This situation is rare, and as it is not directly covered in Law 14, referees have understandably tended to penalise the kicker for having touched the ball again before it has touched another player, thus awarding an indirect free kick to the opposition or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), recording the kick as missed. "However, this part of Law 14 is primarily intended for situations where the penalty taker deliberately touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player (e.g. when it rebounds from the goalpost(s) or crossbar without touching the goalkeeper). This is very different from the penalty taker accidentally kicking the ball with both feet simultaneously or touching the ball with their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after they have taken the kick, which usually occurs because they have slipped when taking it. Not penalising an accidental double touch would nevertheless be unfair, as the goalkeeper can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball.”

WHAT IFAB SAID

But for Atletico, the damage has already been done. The timing of IFAB's rule revision has left the fans furious as they believe their club was unfairly eliminated from the Champions League based on a rule that has now been softened in retrospect.<a href="https://x.com/Andrei95561884/status/1929844922250613232" target="_blank">@Andrei95561884</a> wrote: "Brother, this implies that there WAS a double touch. This is not making us justice."<a href="https://x.com/lachlan_olofsen/status/1929851803551883642" target="_blank">@lachlan_olofsen </a>argued: "That’s great can’t wait for this to happen in a game for another 10 years. Wonder what ridiculous rule they’ll use against Atleti next year 😂."Meanwhile, <a href="https://x.com/anhdp018/status/1929845508169736665" target="_blank">@anhdp018</a> lashed out: "That's how Vardid thieves take 15 UCL."<a href="https://x.com/Alejandr_1903/status/1929850624696316097" target="_blank">@Alejandr_1903</a> echoed his thoughts and wrote: "The surprise comes as Real Madrid steals again in a competition."<a href="https://x.com/roxrichie/status/1929882433287065802" target="_blank">@roxrichie</a> added: "The number of decisions that has gone Real Madrid’s way in the UCL is just diabolical. They would have at least 4 less UCL’s if refs was fair."

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

An Atletico spokesperson reiterated their stance to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6399445/2025/06/03/julian-alvarez-penalty-miss-rule-change/" target="_blank">The Athletic</a> that the referee made an error on the night, arguing that the original law should not have applied without clear intent from Alvarez to kick the ball using more than one touch. The IFAB amendment will officially come into effect in the upcoming season and is expected to bring more consistency and fairness to penalty rulings.

WHAT NEXT?

'This is not justice!' - Atletico Madrid fans rage as IFAB announce major law change after Julian Alvarez 'double touch' penalty in Champions League defeat to Real Madrid | Goal.com

Atletico Madrid fans are raging over a football law change after Julian Alvarez&apos;s &apos;double touch&apos; penalty against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

&apos;This is not justice!&apos; - Atletico Madrid fans rage as IFAB announce major law change after Julian Alvarez &apos;double touch&apos; penalty in Champions League defeat to Real Madrid

Next matches