Only one thing’s for sure – this will remain one of those controversial calls that will trigger debates as long as we’re on this planet.Real Madrid are in the Champions League quarter-finals following a dramatic penalty shootout against Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metrpolitano on Wednesday night. Los Blancos’ captain, Lucas Vazquez, didn’t score from the spot, but neither did his rivals Marcos Llorente and Julian Alvarez, who actually scored, but his effort was disallowed following a VAR review.Real Madrid barely managed to keep the crown on their head after Madrid war!That one instantly sparked a furious debate on the pitch among the players and off the pitch among the fans on social media. What’s interesting in this controversial decision is that the referee, Szymon Marciniak, didn’t see anything wrong despite standing just a few yards away and keeping his focus on the ball.However, Madrid’s forward, Kylian Mbappe, was the first to react lively and claimed Alvarez had a double touch with the ball as he slipped a bit while taking the penalty.Aquí una mejor toma del polémico penal de Julián Álvarez. Toca el balón dos veces?? pic.twitter.com/VAyoETd9lV— Antonio de Valdés (@adevaldes) March 13, 2025 After a few seconds of commotion, we were informed that the VAR review showed and decided that the goal would be voided due to Alvarez’s double touch.Regardless of which team you support, some things must be said here and now…According to the rules of the game, there’s no option of retaking that penalty since they are very adamant that double touch is not allowed and that it will be considered a missed penalty.##NAJAVA_MECA_8773598##At the same time, not even a handful of different camera angles didn’t blatantly show us Alvarez’s effort had any contact with his left standing foot. Back in 2017, while still at Leicester City, Riyad Mahrez fired a penalty against his future side, Manchester City, which was rightfully disallowed because the ball literally and visibly deflected off his other foot and fooled the keeper on its way to the back of the net.Didn’t touch it with his right foot. It was a goal. pic.twitter.com/ol7GIBoNLw— Jaraparilla 🇾🇪 🇵🇸 🇱🇧 (@jaraparilla) May 13, 2017 Alvarez’s penalty is nothing like that. It seems that even if there was the slightest contact between the ball and the left foot, it didn’t affect the ball’s direction.That was precisely Diego Simeone’s point at the press conference in the game’s aftermath, as he asked all the present journalists a simple question: “If anyone from here has seen Julian touch the ball twice, raise your hand? Come on… no? No one?”Not a single arm went up.Diego Simeone: “If anyone from here has seen Julian touch the ball twice, raise your hand. Come on… no? No one?”pic.twitter.com/CS41vfzCWs— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 12, 2025 Funnily enough, it was Real Madrid’s player Dani Ceballos who accepted the challenge and raised his hand at X, former Twitter, while Vinicius Junior – who missed it from the spot during the game – also took to the same social media to make one of those ‘cry louder’ stances.”There’s only one Madrid! But we all know that. To improve and to the next one!”🤚🏼 https://t.co/Y5PWSyW5x1— Daniel Ceballos (@DaniCeballos46) March 12, 2025 Madremiaaaa!!! MADRID HAY UNO SOLO!!!! Pero eso todos ló sabemos. A mejorar y a lá próxima!!!— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) March 12, 2025 And what do you say about this, one of the most controversial calls in the recent past? Would you raise your hand, or you’re among those who think Julian Alvarez’s goal should have stood?
