A UEFA review is set to address the controversial double touch rule that led to Julian Alvarez's shootout penalty being disallowed, a decision that sparked outrage among Atletico Madrid fans and players. The incident occurred during Atletico's recent Champions League tie against city rivals Real Madrid, marking another chapter in a fierce competition.

During the shootout, Alvarez slipped slightly, making contact with the ball twice—first with his standing foot—in a moment that was quickly challenged by Real Madrid players. UEFA confirmed that while the decision to disallow the goal was in line with the current rules, they will engage in discussions with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to reevaluate circumstances surrounding unintentional double touches. According to BBC, the rule states that the kicker must not play the ball again until it touches another player.

Atletico Madrid's head coach, Diego Simeone, expressed his frustration over the incident, questioning the lack of clear evidence of Alvarez touching the ball twice. "Did anyone here see Julián touching the ball twice? Raise your hand if you did," he said. The controversy was compounded by Atletico’s position in the closely-fought La Liga title race, where only a single point separates the top teams. They now look forward to facing Barcelona in another critical league match scheduled for Sunday, with both those games impacting their quest for silverware this season.

As they prepare to host Barcelona for a top-of-the-table clash, Atletico Madrid must recover quickly from the heartbreak of their Champions League exit, which came despite an impressive performance in the match. Having lost six consecutive shootouts against Real Madrid, the pressure mounts on Simeone and his squad to reclaim their momentum in the league. Meanwhile, Real Madrid advances to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

For further details, visit Africanews.