Referee cancelled Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match. Reason revealed

The great Madrid derby between Atletico and Real ended in grand drama. After the end of regulation time, fans were treated to a penalty shootout where the outcome was determined not by the players or goalkeepers, but by external factors.

Atletico Madrid's forward, with the score at 1-1 in the penalty shootout, was the third to strike and outmaneuvered Thibaut Courtois. However, the chief referee of the match, Szymon Marciniak, took a lengthy pause before the next kick and then gestured that the penalty was disallowed. This was done so casually that no one understood what had happened. Even the directors immediately removed the score from the screens to avoid confusion.

• Also read: Unfortunate fact. Vinicius missed his first penalty for Real Madrid

It was later revealed that Marciniak overturned the goal following advice from his VAR colleagues, who informed him that Julian Alvarez had touched the ball twice during the penalty: first with his standing foot and then with his kicking foot.

Replays, photos, and freeze-frames do not provide a definitive answer as to whether Julian Alvarez indeed made two touches on the ball. From the broadcast angles shown, it was not visible that the Argentine forward touched the ball with his standing foot.

Ultimately, the penalty shootout concluded with Real Madrid winning 4-2. In the next round, the "Royal" club will face Arsenal.