Soccer law on penalty kicks updated after Champions League incident helped oust Atletico

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has issued a formal clarification on the laws governing penalty kicks, prompted by a controversial incident involving Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez during a UEFA Champions League knockout match. The updated guidance is intended to address rare occurrences of accidental double touches during penalty attempts.

Álvarez was at the center of a disputed moment during Atlético’s penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of the 2023–24 Champions League. While taking his shot, the Argentine forward slipped, inadvertently striking the ball with his kicking foot and then again with his standing foot. The ball subsequently entered the net, beating goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. However, the goal was disallowed following a video review, and Atlético went on to lose the shootout.

Clarification Targets Accidental Contact, Not Intentional Infractions

At the time of the incident, match officials were considered to have correctly enforced Law 14 of the Laws of the Game, which governs penalty kicks. However, the wording of the law was criticized for lacking clarity in cases involving unintentional double touches.

IFAB has since acknowledged that this type of event is rare and not clearly addressed in the existing rulebook. In a statement issued to football authorities and stakeholders, IFAB emphasized that Law 14 was originally designed to penalize deliberate second touches by the penalty taker before another player has made contact with the ball.

Under the newly clarified interpretation, if a goal results from an accidental double contact by the kicker, the penalty must be retaken. Conversely, if the accidental double touch leads to a failed attempt—such as the ball not entering the goal—then the outcome stands without a retake. During regulation play or extra time, the defending team would be awarded a free kick. In a penalty shootout scenario, such attempts will simply be recorded as missed.

This clarification is intended to create a more consistent and fair approach to evaluating such incidents and will help eliminate confusion for referees, players, and spectators alike.

New Guidelines Take Effect Ahead of Club World Cup

The revised interpretation of the rule will be applied in all FIFA-sanctioned competitions starting immediately, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The expanded 32-team tournament is set to begin on June 14 in the United States, and Atlético Madrid is among the clubs scheduled to participate.

IFAB, the rule-making body for international football, includes representatives from FIFA and the four British football associations—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Rule changes require six votes to pass, with FIFA controlling four votes and the British associations holding one vote each.

The update underscores IFAB’s ongoing effort to refine the rulebook in response to high-profile events and evolving game situations. While the clarification does not alter the outcome of past matches such as Atlético’s elimination in March, it aims to ensure that future decisions involving similar incidents are guided by clearer and more equitable standards.