The penalty rule in football: Why Julian Alvarez's kick vs Real Madrid was disallowed

Atletico Madrid players applaud their fans following their defeat to Real Madrid in the Chamnpions League at the Wanda Mtropolitano Stadium in Spain on March 13, 2025. [Atletico, Facebook]

In a dramatic Champions League encounter between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid last night, a controversial call overshadowed the nail-biting shoot-out that saw Atletico succumb 4-2 after a 1-0 victory in regulation time.

The spotlight fell on Julian Alvarez, whose penalty was controversially disallowed, igniting debates over the rules of the game and the intricacies of the shoot-out procedure.