Iturralde and the Controversial Play: Legal Goal due to Simultaneous Touch?
Former referee Iturralde González has reopened the debate about a controversial play in the Champions League, proposing a new regulatory interpretation that could benefit Atlético de Madrid.
On the ‘Carrusel Deportivo’ program of Cadena SER, Iturralde presented his theory on ‘simultaneous touches,’ a vision that could have validated the play. According to Iturralde, ‘Any free kick is legal if the ball is touched simultaneously with one leg and the other.
This is a rule.’ The key lies in determining whether the player’s touches were simultaneous or not. Iturralde explained that the current discussion in the IFAB (International Football Association Board) focuses on defining when the ball is considered in motion, seeking clarification to avoid confusion.
The former referee pointed out that UEFA seeks the IFAB to determine that it is a clear displacement. Iturralde stressed that if the two touches are simultaneous, then the play would be legal.
However, he acknowledged the difficulty of determining whether the touches are simultaneous, admitting that perception may vary. ‘The debate in the world of football is whether the ball is in motion or not. Everything else is noise,’ Iturralde concluded, leaving open the interpretation of this controversial situation.
