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 Bracket by bitter rivals Real Madrid in hugely controversial circumstances after the VAR Dismissed Julián Alvarez’s penalty Boot 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 Aim after Merely 27 seconds, the fastest Aim scored by an Englishman in Champions Bracket history.

Gallagher’s effort tied the aggregate Points at 1-1 after Real’s slender Triumph in the Primary leg, with nothing separating the Clubs across 180 minutes, as well as 30 minutes of extra time.

That deadlock appeared to have continued after the Quaternary penalty effort, but the drama was only Merely 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 Stress on Ex 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 Discovered the roof of the net to level it up at 2-2. But as Federico Valverde Created his way Near the area to take his penalty, Umpire Szymon Marciniak gestured to him that he was withholding Shift.

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 Club via their coaching staff, as well as their supporters who could be heard loudly cheering.

There was hope for Atlético as Ángel Correa’s Aim 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 Boot into the crossbar, leaving the stage set for Antonio Rüdiger to strike the Victorious 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 Event” – states: “The [penalty] Boot is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of Shift or the Umpire stops Shift for any offence; the kicker may not Shift 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 Bracket, and the decision was Created via VAR using only television replays.

The Reflex

Real’s players immediately went into a frenzy as they celebrated the Triumph via a Turning Tally Quaternary shoot-out Triumph in the Champions Bracket.

However, Vinicius Junior was seen taunting Atlético fans, prompting an Mad Reflex from Numerous areas of the home Aid.

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

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

Atlético head Trainer Diego Simeone was fuming with the Umpire’s decision to rule out Alvarez’s spot-Boot.

“I’ve never seen the VAR called to review a penalty in a shootout… Never!” the Argentine told a press conference. “Did you see him touching the ball twice? Please, whoever was present in the stadium and saw him touching the ball twice, the ball moving, please come forward and raise your hand!

“I don’t see anybody with their hand raised so that’s all I have to say… Upcoming question.”

Ex Real Madrid midfielder and co-commentator Steve McManaman supported Marciniak’s controversial 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 Aim.”

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

“Julián Alvarez slipping, an irregular Boot disallowed. Antonio Rüdiger sneaking in the last Boot. Merely wow. They Acquired 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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