IFAB admits rule misinterpretation over Julian Alvarez penalty

It comes too late to change the past, but in effect, IFAB has sided with Atletico Madrid. The penalty taken by Alvarez — which led to Atletico's elimination from the Champions League — was wrongly interpreted, and from next season onwards, similar situations must result in the kick being retaken.

This week, IFAB sent a circular to all federations and confederations, admitting that Law 14 — regarding double touches at penalties — was never intended to apply to incidents like the one seen at the Santiago Bernabeu. The rule, as originally conceived, was meant to penalise deliberate second touches, not accidental ones like Alvarez's.

"IFAB wants to clarify Laws 10 and 14 in relation to situations where the taker accidentally makes contact with the ball using both feet, or when the ball deflects off the non-kicking leg immediately after the shot," the statement reads, describing it as an "unusual situation" that is "not explicitly covered" in the current wording of the law.

"Referees have reasonably tended to penalise the taker for playing the ball twice before another player touches it, awarding an indirect free-kick or, in a penalty shootout, ruling the attempt invalid," it continues.

"However, this section of Law 14 was originally intended for deliberate second touches — for instance, when a player hits the post or crossbar and then plays the ball again without another touch in between."

The circular goes on to stress that what happened to Alvarez — who slipped and made slight contact with the ball using his left foot before scoring with his right — should be treated differently.

That moment, which took place in the Champions League last 16, saw referee Szymon Marciniak rule out the goal after a VAR review, in a decision that proved highly controversial.

Going forward, the guidance is clear: "If the kick is successful, it must be retaken. If it is unsuccessful, an indirect free-kick should be awarded, or in the case of a penalty shootout, the attempt is to be considered missed."

The circular is set to come into effect from 1 July, although it notes that the ruling may also apply to ongoing competitions, including the upcoming Club World Cup.