Arbitral Controversy: Should Atlético have Appealed?
The match against Real Madrid continues to generate controversy, especially regarding the annulment of Julián Álvarez’s penalty. Toni Roca, an expert in sports law, has analyzed the play and his opinion is clear: the rule was applied incorrectly.
According to Roca, Article 14 of the IFAB, which Atlético clung to, establishes that the ball is in play when it is hit and clearly moves. In the case of Álvarez’s penalty, the touch was so slight that, in the expert’s opinion, the ball never really came into play.
Roca argues that the rule does not prohibit touching the ball twice, but rather playing it again before another player touches it, which did not happen in the action. Based on this interpretation, Roca believes that the annulment of the penalty was a mistake.
In fact, if he were in Atlético’s position, Roca assures that he would appeal the match or, at least, request that the kick be repeated. His reasoning is based on the literal interpretation of the rules, where the meaning of the words is fundamental. The arbitral controversy has generated an intense debate among fans and experts, leaving open the question of whether Atlético should have taken legal action to defend its interests.
