Well, the storm is still brewing over the Julian Alvarez incident. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has categorically dismissed claims that Kylian Mbappé alerted the officials regarding Alvarez's double touch during a penalty kick in the recent Champions League derby against Real Madrid. Instead, Marciniak has taken the opportunity to clarify his role in the decision-making process.
In an interview with Win Win, Marciniak stated, “No, it’s absolutely not true that Mbappé was the one to tell the referees that Alvarez had touched the ball twice. I was the one who communicated to the VAR that there was a 99% chance he had indeed made two contacts, and they examined it closely.” He further admitted that he had never encountered such a situation in his career, highlighting that players are well aware of the rules.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid remains aggrieved as discussions around the so-called 'penalty of discord' continue to dominate headlines. They feel wronged following UEFA's affirmation that the VAR's annulment of Alvarez's goal was justified, although there are indications that rules around unintentional double touches may be revised with FIFA and IFAB.
The Atletico management expressed that their hopes, along with the efforts of their team and the expectations of millions of fans, have been shattered. They assert that the images released do not unequivocally show Alvarez’s double contact and that VAR interventions should only occur in clear-cut cases.
Adding to the fray, sports law expert Toni Roca suggested to Atletico that they should weigh the option of appealing or at the very least, demanding a resumption of the match from the point of the controversial penalty. He argued that while the rules forbid a player from playing the ball again before it has been touched by another, the specific context of Alvarez's kick leaves the application of the rule in question.
Indeed, Roca pointed out that the article in question states the ball is deemed in play when it’s struck and moves distinctly. In Alvarez's case, the touch was minimal, thus compounding the idea the regulation may have been misapplied.
As the dust settles on this contentious matter, one thing is for sure: the Atletico Madrid supporters will be keeping a keen eye on developments.