De la Fuente and the Decisive Penalty: A View from the National Team
National team coach Luis de la Fuente was present at the Metropolitano, where he witnessed a crucial Atlético de Madrid match. After the match, he was asked about the controversy generated by the annulment of a penalty taken by Julián Álvarez during the decisive shootout against another Madrid club in the Champions League.
The penalty, initially validated, was overturned by VAR due to an alleged infringement by the Argentinian player. De la Fuente, true to his style, opted for diplomacy and avoided fueling the controversy.
In a subsequent press conference, the coach stated that these types of situations are ’things of the regulations’. He added that decisions should be made by those responsible, thus avoiding further controversy around the issue.
Asked how he would react if he were the coach of one of the teams involved, De la Fuente acknowledged that his reaction would depend on the outcome. ‘If it happens in your favor, you would have been happy, and if it had been against you, you would have been angry,’ he admitted candidly.
His answer reflects the passion inherent in football, where refereeing decisions can have a significant impact on the final result. The coach focused on his next task, the Nations League qualifier against the Netherlands, leaving behind the arbitral controversy of the match.
