One week after Atlético Madrid’s elimination in the Champions League Round of 16, the controversy surrounding Julián Álvarez’s disallowed penalty remains a hot topic. The decision by the referee and VAR to rule out his goal against Real Madrid—due to an alleged double touch—has been widely debated by experts and fans alike.

Video Analysis Raises Doubts About the Decision

Spanish outlet El Desmarque published an analysis by Àlex Soler (@txolerfx), a video editing specialist, who examined UEFA’s footage of the penalty frame by frame. According to his study:

📌 The ball’s shadow and the player’s movements do not align, suggesting the perspective shown in the footage could be misleading.
📌 The perceived deviation of the ball may be an optical illusion caused by Álvarez’s movement rather than an actual double touch.

Due to the lack of clarity, Atlético Madrid has formally requested an explanation from UEFA, arguing that IFAB Rule 14 may not have been correctly applied. The club maintains that the ball is considered in play once it is clearly struck and moves forward, leaving doubts as to whether Álvarez actually made two contacts or if the play was misinterpreted during VAR review.

Controversy Over the VAR Decision

One of the biggest criticisms of the ruling is how quickly the decision was made. While most controversial plays undergo lengthy VAR checks, this penalty was ruled out in less than a minute—raising suspicions among Atlético Madrid supporters.

📌 Atlético players were visibly confused on the pitch, and fans felt the call was both unjust and decisive in the outcome of the tie.
📌 Despite protests, Real Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals, winning 4-2 on penalties, in what has become one of the most debated moments of the season.

VAR Controversy and the Need for Transparency

This incident has reignited the debate over the accuracy and transparency of VAR decisions. While the technology was introduced to correct obvious mistakes, controversial calls like Álvarez’s penalty only create more uncertainty and distrust in its application.

As Atlético Madrid moves forward, focusing on their next challenges, their fans continue to demand answers regarding a call that could have changed the outcome of the tie.