Atletico vs Real: The Controversy Rages On! Spanish Papers Declare “World Cup Woes Unfolding!”

A right kerfuffle, it is. The controversy surrounding Julian Alvarez's disallowed penalty speaks volumes, and in Spain, the debate is far from settled. This incident, triggered by a 'double-touch' decision after a VAR review, has been instrumental in sealing Atlético Madrid's fate in the Champions League derby against Real Madrid. Yesterday, UEFA stepped into the fray with a statement addressing the hullabaloo. They remarked, "Atlético Madrid has sought clarification from UEFA regarding the cancellation of the penalty taken by Julián Alvarez at the conclusion of yesterday's UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. Although the touch was minor, the player indeed made contact with the ball using his standing foot prior to taking the shot, as evidenced in the attached video." They further elaborated that according to the prevailing rules (Laws of the Game, Rule 14.1), the VAR was obliged to alert the referee to annul the goal. However, the pointed remark that has sparked further discussion is UEFA's promise to engage with FIFA and IFAB to assess whether the rule should be revisited in cases where a double touch appears clearly unintentional. For now, this explanation hasn’t mollified the Atlético camp. AS aptly headlines the matter as “A Right Mess,” while Mundo Deportivo has christened it “Outrage.”