Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez has stated that despite watching "the penalty a thousand times" against Real Madrid, he does not feel he touched the ball twice and believes the "rule needs to be clearer."
Alvarez, who plays for Atletico Madrid and Argentina, recalled on Saturday watching the controversial penalty against Real Madrid in the Champions League a thousand times. He insisted he didn't feel he touched the ball twice, claiming if there was a double touch, the contact was "minimal" and called for the rule to be "a bit clearer" regarding these types of penalties.
"I've watched it a thousand times, there are videos everywhere. Honestly, I don't feel it. If it were two touches, the contact was minimal and it's very hard to notice," Alvarez explained in an interview with ESPN's Sports Center, following Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
Alvarez suggested that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) should reconsider the rule regarding such penalties. "I think the rule needs to be a bit clearer because I don't try to gain any advantage, and sometimes the goalkeeper moves forward when saving, and the penalty is retaken. This isn't about gaining an advantage. It's a shame what happened," he remarked.
On March 12, during the second leg of Atletico Madrid's Champions League round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid, Alvarez slipped when taking his penalty in the shootout and it ended up as a goal. After a VAR review, referee Szymon Marciniak ruled that the 25-year-old had touched the ball twice and disallowed the goal.
Atletico Madrid were ultimately eliminated from the Champions League after losing the shootout, following five additional penalties—three from Real Madrid and two from Atletico.