In a significant update to football’s laws, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has clarified that accidental “double-touch” penalties will now be retaken—but only if the kick was successful. The change comes after a controversial incident during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid in March, prompting Uefa to request a review of the rule.
The controversy arose when Atletico’s Argentina forward Julian Alvarez slipped during a penalty shootout, his standing leg making slight contact with the ball after conversion. The goal was disallowed, sparking outrage from the home side as Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals via the shootout.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, confirmed that under the existing Law 14, the video assistant referee (VAR) correctly intervened to disallow the goal, as Article 14.1 states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.” However, the law did not explicitly address accidental double touches, leading Uefa to consult with Ifab and Fifa, world football’s governing body, on unintentional cases.
IFAB acknowledged that referees had “understandably” penalized players for double touches, as the rule was primarily designed to address deliberate actions. However, the board has now issued a clarification to all national associations and confederations: if an accidental double-touch results in a goal, the penalty will be retaken. If the kick is unsuccessful, the defending team will be awarded an indirect free-kick during a match, or the attempt will be recorded as a miss in a shootout.
IFAB noted that failing to penalize double touches entirely would be unfair to goalkeepers, who could be disadvantaged by an altered ball trajectory. The clarified law aims to strike a balance, ensuring fairness in these rare scenarios.
The updated rule takes effect from July 1, though IFAB noted that competitions, such as the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States (June 14-July 13), may adopt it earlier.