Julian Alvarez endured a nightmare in the UEFA Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
The Argentina international slipped when taking his penalty in the shootout, but despite finding the back of the net, his effort was ruled out by VAR – who felt the South American kicked the ball twice.
Article 14.1 of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) laws of the game states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”
Álvarez’s penalty is overturned by VAR after a double touch 😳
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Such a moment has only ever happened twice in the Premier League, with Riyad Mahrez and Aleksandar Mitrovic the unfortunate parties, seeing efforts ruled out despite scoring, due to the double-touch rule.
Manchester City actually benefitted from the Algerian’s mishap in 2017 – he was playing for Leicester at the time – leading Pep Guardiola to comment on the rule which denied Julian Alvarez.
Pep Guardiola likened double-touch rule to golf in 2017
The BBC quote the Spaniard as saying: “The shot was strange but the rule is clear. Two touches, the same as golf. It is not normal.”
76. WOW! Mahrez’s penalty chalked off after the Leicester man touched the ball twice! Spot from the ref that! 🤓
🔵 2-1 🦊
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 13, 2017
In golf, players used to be penalised by having an extra shot added if they accidentally happened to hit the ball twice with their club, although the rule has now been amended to only count one shot.
Julian Alvarez can count himself very unfortunate
In our view, it was very harsh of VAR to get involved inside the Wanda Metropolitano.
The rule was only implemented so players refrain from deliberately kicking the ball a few extra yards forward to make the penalty easier for them.
In the case of Alvarez – who Manchester City sold – the Atletico Madrid No.19 actually makes his penalty more difficult for himself by seeing his standing foot slide close to the ball, so he should arguably be praised for still managing to guide it beyond Thibaut Courtois despite the slip.
