Derby Controversy: Marciniak clarifies the annulled goal
The derby between Atlético and Real Madrid continues to generate discussion. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has come forward to clarify the controversial play in the penalty shootout where an Atlético goal was disallowed.
Marciniak, in statements to the WinWin portal, assured that he was the one who alerted VAR about the possible infraction, a double touch by Álvarez when taking the penalty.
“I was the one who informed the VAR referees that there was a 99% possibility of a double touch by Álvarez, and they reviewed it thoroughly,” Marciniak stated, denying rumors about the intervention of other players.
The referee admitted that he had never faced a similar situation in his career, but defended the application of the regulations. UEFA issued a statement supporting the referee’s decision, based on rule 14.1 of the rules of the game, which requires the goal to be disallowed in case of a double touch.
However, the European body also announced that it will open a debate with FIFA and IFAB on the need to review this rule, especially in situations where the double touch is unintentional. A play that has undoubtedly generated controversy and highlights the importance of VAR and the continuous evolution of the rules in current football.
