The Julián Álvarez Penalty Debate: Iturralde to the Rescue
The controversy over the disallowed penalty to Julián Álvarez in the match against Real Madrid continues to generate debate. After several expert opinions, former international referee Eduardo Iturralde González has provided a new perspective that could justify the validity of the shot.
According to Iturralde, if it is proven that Álvarez’s two touches to the ball were simultaneous, the penalty would be legal. Iturralde explained that the key lies in the interpretation of the regulations regarding the two touches.
The rule indicates that they are a foul if the ball is put in motion between the two touches. However, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) is debating and seeking clarification on when the ball is considered to be in motion.
UEFA wants IFAB to determine that there must be a clear displacement of the ball to consider that it is in motion. The Basque referee acknowledged the difficulty of determining whether the touches were simultaneous, generating divided opinions.
The crux of the matter lies in discerning whether Julián Álvarez’s ball was in motion or not at the time of contact. This interpretation is crucial to determining the validity of the penalty, and the final decision may depend on the clarification provided by IFAB.
