Did Real Madrid benefit from a refereeing boost during their recent qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals?
The theory that Real Madrid benefited from the refereeing is still being fueled these days within the ranks of Atlético Madrid, where the recent elimination to the Merengues on penalties in the round of 16 of the Champions League is still unresolved.
During that fateful session, the Matelassiers saw Julian Alvarez’s winning attempt invalidated for alleged double contact with the ball. In the heat of the moment, while the Argentinian penalty shooter had admittedly slipped, Kylian Mbappé and his teammates rushed to the referee to demand the outcome – a verdict that was ultimately quickly adopted after recourse to video assistance.
“I’ve seen it thousands of times”
Since then, despite UEFA’s own publication of footage supposedly justifying the sentence, it’s difficult to say. And the person concerned added another layer this Saturday: “I’ve seen it thousands of times, there are videos everywhere. If there were two touches, the contact is minimal and it’s very difficult to perceive,” said Julian Alvarez.
“The rules need to be a little clearer, because I’m not trying to take advantage of the situation. For example, when the goalkeeper steps forward and saves a penalty, the penalty should be retaken. And it’s not to take advantage of the situation,” argued the Albiceleste striker. Following this frustrating Real-Atlético match for the Colchoneros, Diego Simeone and his president, Enrique Cerezo, did not hide their outrage.
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