A penalty taken by Julian Alvarez caused major confusion in a Champions League match. Now, football’s rule-makers have changed the penalty rule. Accidental double touches during a penalty will lead to a retake instead of a disallowed goal.
Controversial Penalty Leads to Rule Change
A Champions League match earlier this year between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid led to big changes in football rules. The drama happened during a penalty shootout when Atletico Madrid’s Argentine star Julián Álvarez took a shot that caused confusion and sparked debate across the football world.
What Happened During the Penalty?
In the last 16 match of the 2024–2025 UEFA Champions League, Alvarez slipped while taking a penalty kick. As he slipped, the ball touched his left foot twice—once from the main kick and again accidentally as he fell. The ball still ended up in the goal, beating Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. At first, it looked like a perfect goal.
However, after a video review, the referees ruled that Alvarez touched the ball twice. According to the existing rule at that time, a player was not allowed to touch the ball twice in a penalty without another player touching it. The goal was canceled, and Atletico Madrid was eventually eliminated from the tournament.
New Penalty Rules Explained
Because of the confusion caused by Alvarez’s penalty, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for making football’s rules, decided to make changes.
Here’s what the new rule says:
- If a player accidentally touches the ball twice while taking a penalty and scores, the penalty will be retaken.
- If the second touch is intentional, the goal will not count, and the other team will get a free kick.
- If the second touch is unintentional and the player misses, it will be counted as a miss and play will continue.
- In penalty shootouts, if a player unintentionally double-touches the ball and misses, it is still considered a miss.
The IFAB explained that this situation is very rare and was not clearly covered in the old rule book (Law 14). That’s why referees were often unsure what to do. The new update clears this up.
When Do These Rules Start?
The new rules came into effect immediately on the same day they were announced. That means they were applied starting with the UEFA Nations League semi-final between Germany and Portugal in Munich. They will also be used in upcoming major tournaments like the Club World Cup, which begins in the United States on June 14.
This rule update aims to make football fairer and clearer, especially during high-pressure moments like penalty shootouts.
Extra Info: Who Makes These Rules?
The IFAB is made up of FIFA and four football associations from the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There are eight votes in total FIFA gets four votes, and the four UK associations each get one. A new rule needs six out of eight votes to be approved.
So, thanks to the penalty taken by Alvarez, players, referees, and fans will now know exactly what happens if a ball is touched twice during a penalty kick.
Summary:
One strange penalty from Julian Alvarez has led to a big change in football’s penalty rules. Now, accidental double touches will give players a second chance. Football just got a little clearer and fairer!
