A penalty that changed the football rule

Spring the eighth Champions League final He raised a lot of dust between Madrid competitors, Atlétic and Real. Not just because of tense struggle to advancebut mainly because of the canceled eleven -meter player atlética Julián álvarez while performing the penalty shoots that decided to make progress. Álvarez the ball was otherwise sent to the back Thibaut Courtoisbut, after the inspection of the VAR, its shot was canceled due to the unintentional double touch of the ball. Atlético then dropped out, triggering a wave of indignation in red and white and their fans.

A rule that stirs ghosts

Referee Szymon Marciniak The decision is made in accordance with the then valid Article 14.1 of the rules of the football game, which stipulates: « The contractor should not play the ball again until another player touches it. » Independent« Understandably » also used in cases of unintentional double contact, often the consequences of slipping of the contractor.

Atlético Madrid did not agree with such an interpretation and filed a complaint with the European Football Association (Uefa), as they thought that there was no obvious movement of the ball at the first, unintentional touch, as Uefa later claimed, which published a slow recording of the event. Two days after the match, the club spokesman expressed a « huge frustration » for, in their view, errors in the use of the VAR system.

New winds in football rules

Due to the aforementioned controversial decision and complaint at the Atlética, UEFA sparked a debate with the World Football Federation (FIFA) and IFAB, which is responsible for determining the rules of football game. The result of these conversations is an official change or a more precise interpretation of the rules. Ifab thus concluded that if a criminal shot contractor inadvertently comes into contact with the ball with both legs or the ball immediately touches his standing leg, the successfully performed shot is repeated. A unsuccessful attempt will not be repeated if this happens while performing penal shots after the match. If this occurs during the match itself, then a free kick will follow for the opposite team, unless the judge leaves the advantage, if it clearly benefits the defending team.

Ifab is in his explanation as summarized Athleticemphasized that the original purpose of Article 14 was not to punish unintentional slippages. « This part of 14. The rules are primarily intended for situations where a penalty shot contractor plays a second time before touching another player, » they wrote. At the same time, they acknowledge that the complete impunity of the unintentional double touch would not be fair, as the changed path of the ball can damage the goalkeeper. Therefore, repeated lightning is a compromise in case of hit. If the eleven -meter accent is intentionally touched twice, it will still be punished by repealing the hit.

The spring show of the eighth Champions League final between Madrid rivals, Atlétic and Real, raised a lot of dust. Photo: Susana Vera/Reuters

The changed rule will officially come into force with 1 in July, but ifab allows the competitions that start before this date can already be used, which could also include the upcoming FIFA club World Cup, adds BBC. This change thus brings greater clarity and justice in cases that have so far caused a lot of confusion and bad will. The rule will be in force since today in the League of Nations.