The disallowed penalty by Julian Alvarez against Real Madrid has ignited yet another controversial chapter in football, prompting Atletico Madrid fan groups to organize a lawsuit against UEFA.
The controversy surrounding Julian Alvarez’s penalty against Real Madrid continues to escalate, as Atletico Madrid fan groups plan legal action against UEFA. This incident, which unfolded during a Champions League penalty shootout, involved Alvarez allegedly touching the ball twice before it crossed the goal line—resulting in the goal being disallowed.
Despite referee Szymon Marciniak upholding the decision after a VAR review, Atletico fans remain unconvinced. One prominent fan group, Señales de Humo, commissioned forensic analysis from 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—issued a joint statement announcing their intent to take legal action against UEFA. The fans allege that the governing body released a manipulated video as evidence to justify 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 concluded.
The disallowed goal has been perceived as a crucial moment leading to Atletico Madrid’s elimination from the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League, allowing Real Madrid to advance to the quarterfinals. Frustrated supporters are determined to hold those accountable, taking their grievances to the courtroom.
Possible consequences beyond the lawsuit
While the lawsuit represents a major development, its effects may extend further. UEFA has reportedly recognized 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 discussions could result in significant changes to the rulebook—an outcome that would leave a lasting impact stemming from an incident that continues to generate debate long after it occurred.
