Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone didn’t maintain again in his post-match press convention. After the workforce’s controversial exit from the Champions League, he grilled the reporters. Atletico misplaced on penalty shootout on Wednesday within the return leg of the spherical of 16 fixture in opposition to Spanish league opponent Actual Madrid.
Diego Simeone, heart, reacts on the finish of the Champions League spherical of 16 match between Atletico Madrid and Actual Madrid(AP)
The thrilling contest on the Wanda Metropolitano was marred by controversy after Julian Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed following a VAR examine. The World Cup-winning Argentina star had transformed from the spot after slipping as he beat Actual Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Nonetheless, a replay throughout the VAR examine confirmed that his standing foot had made contact with the ball earlier than it was struck with the precise foot. Therefore, the aim was denied en path to Atletico’s loss, who earlier within the night restored parity on the mixture rating on the again of Conor Gallagher’s first-minute strike.
After the match, Simeone was requested about his tackle the VAR name, and he switched his consideration again to the reporters, asking everybody within the media room if anybody current felt there was a double contact.
He requested: “If anyone from here has seen Julian touch the ball twice, raise your hand. Come on… no? No one?”
Simeone added: “I just saw the image of the penalty. The referee said that when Julián stepped and kicked, he touched the ball with his foot, but the ball didn’t move. That’s something to discuss about whether it was a goal or not, but I’m proud of my players. When he plants his foot and kicks, the ball doesn’t move even a little bit.
“But if VAR called it, I’ve never seen a penalty called by VAR, but it’s still valid, and they’ll have seen that he touched it. I want to believe they’ll have seen that he touched it.”
UEFA released statement on Alvarez drama
In a major move, Europe’s governing body said that it will consult FIFA and IFAB to ‘determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional’.
The statement read: “Atlético de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julián Alvarez on the finish of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match in opposition to Actual Madrid.
“Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed.
“UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to find out whether or not the rule needs to be reviewed in instances the place a double contact is clearly unintentional.”