Julian Alvarez’s penalty controversy vs. Real Madrid escalates as Atletico Madrid fans plan to sue UEFA
The controversy surrounding Julian Alvarez’s penalty against Real Madrid continues to escalate, with Atletico Madrid fan groups now planning legal action against UEFA. The incident, which took place during a Champions League penalty shootout, involved Alvarez allegedly touching the ball twice before it crossed the goal line—leading to the goal being disallowed.
While referee Szymon Marciniak upheld the decision after a VAR review, Atletico fans were not convinced. One prominent fan group, Señales de Humo, commissioned forensic analysis from the firm Duque & Wittnak, which concluded: “The results of the forensic analysis do not rule out the possibility that the video has been edited and, therefore, manipulated in comparison to the original.”
Following this report, several Atletico Madrid fan organizations—including Señales de Humo, Union Internacional de Peñas del Atletico, Senado Atletico, and Los 50—released a joint statement announcing their intent to take legal action against UEFA. The fans claim the governing body released a manipulated video as evidence to support its ruling on the penalty.
In a statement released on Friday through ESPN, the fan groups said: “It was agreed, as an initial measure, to create a task force made up of renowned and prestigious lawyers, who will be responsible for designing the appropriate legal strategy to file the relevant complaint as soon as possible.
“We would like to publicly thank the fan groups, club members, and supporters for the support shown toward the idea of defending the dignity and values represented by the history of our club,” the statement read.
The disallowed goal was seen as the pivotal moment that led to Atletico Madrid’s elimination from the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League, as Real Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals. Now, frustrated supporters are refusing to let the moment pass without accountability—taking their concerns to the courtroom.
Possible consequences beyond the lawsuit
While the lawsuit is already a significant development, the ripple effects may not stop there. UEFA has reportedly acknowledged the controversy and announced that discussions will be held with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to review the rule governing double touches in penalty kicks.
These talks could lead to a potential change in the rulebook—an outcome that would give lasting impact to an incident that continues to spark debate weeks after it occurred.