Possible Penalty Replay: A European Precedent
The controversial play involving Julián Álvarez’s penalty kick in the Champions League match between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid has sparked a debate about whether the ball was touched twice during the attempt.
In the absence of definitive proof, some are wondering if Atlético could appeal the referee’s decision, similar to what the English federation did in a qualifying match for the 2015 Women’s U-19 European Championship between Norway and England.
In that match, the referee disallowed a penalty goal due to encroachment without ordering a retake, prompting the English federation to appeal to UEFA. Five days later, UEFA ruled that the match should resume in the 96th minute, at the exact moment of the penalty, with a different referee.
The English player retook the penalty and scored, ultimately contributing to both teams qualifying for the European Championship. This precedent fuels the hope that, in exceptional circumstances and in the absence of clarity, UEFA could consider a similar measure in the case of Atlético de Madrid.
