ZURICH — On Tuesday, the regulations surrounding penalty kicks in soccer received clarity after an incident involving Julián Álvarez highlighted the need for explicit guidelines. Álvarez’s inadvertent double contact with the ball played a crucial role in Atletico Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League, prompting a revision in the rules through a statement from the FIFA-supported regulations committee, IFAB.
The change outlined by IFAB addresses scenarios like the one Álvarez encountered during a penalty shootout against Real Madrid in March. During that event, Álvarez accidentally struck the ball twice after slipping, a misstep that led to the cancellation of his goal through a video-assisted review. Consequently, Atletico Madrid lost the shootout.
At the time, the rules regarding penalty kicks and shootouts were correctly applied in Madrid, although their vagueness led to widespread perception of the outcome as harsh. Álvarez’s slip was unintentional, and he did not gain any advantage from the double touch. IFAB explained in their statement that referees often penalized such occurrences out of necessity due to the lack of clear guidance. The revised ruling now permits a retake of a penalty if it is scored following an accidental double touch.
However, not all cases will result in a retake. If a double-touch penalty fails to score, it stands as missed. For shootouts, such penalties are officially noted as missed, while during regular or extra time play, the defending team will be granted a free kick. This updated rule is set to be implemented at the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, starting on June 14, which will feature 32 teams, including Atletico.
IFAB is made up of FIFA representatives and the four national soccer associations from the United Kingdom. To enact changes to the rules, six out of eight votes are required, with FIFA holding four of those votes and each British association holding one.