June 5 – The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmaker, has clarified the ‘double touch’ penalty law following last season’s controversial Julián Álvarez penalty in Atletico Madrid’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 loss to cross-city rivals Real.
The Argentine international is probably still having nightmares about his infamous penalty kick as the tie tended 2-2 over the two legs, before Real secured their passage to the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout.
To prevent future controversy, IFAB has now clarified what should happen if the situation occurs again. In a published update, IFAB confirmed that penalty kicks scored after an accidental double touch should now be retaken rather than disallowed.
“This situation is rare, and as it is not directly covered in Law 14, referees have understandably tended to penalise the kicker,” IFAB stated. “However, this part of Law 14 is primarily intended for situations where the penalty taker deliberately touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player.”
The new guidelines specify that double touch penalties that are not scored will not be retaken. In shootouts, such penalties “are recorded as missed,” while during regulation or extra time, the defending team receives a free kick.
The Álvarez incident joins a small but notable list of double touch penalty controversies – including spot kicks taken by Fulham’s Aleksander Mitrovic against Newcastle, and Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez against Manchester City.
At the time of the Álvarez incident, many felt the rule was unfair, arguing the Atlético player was not attempting to gain an advantage. The new ruling addresses these concerns by distinguishing between accidental and deliberate double touches.
The revised interpretation takes effect immediately in UEFA-organised competitions. This clarification represents a rare mid-season rule adjustment, highlighting the significance of the controversy and IFAB’s commitment to ensuring fairness in penalty situations.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1749223537labto1749223537ofdlr1749223537owedi1749223537sni@r1749223537etsbe1749223537w.kci1749223537n1749223537