UEFA Referees’ Opinion on Julián’s Disallowed Penalty: Consensus Reached

Within UEFA, the controversial penalty incident involving Julián Álvarez has been thoroughly analyzed and discussed. The referees of Europe’s governing body agree that the decision made by VAR was correct. However, some believe that on-field referee Szymon Marciniak should have personally reviewed the footage on the monitor before making the final call. Despite the complexity and gravity of the situation, the decision is seen as the right one.

Controversy is inevitable in high-stakes matches, especially with such decisive moments. While certain camera angles may be misleading, multiple replays clearly show that Julián Álvarez made contact with the ball twice when taking his penalty. Even the player himself did not protest, fully aware of what had happened, as he later admitted to his teammates.

Nevertheless, anti-Madrid media outlets continue to question the referee’s decision, attempting to create the impression that Real Madrid benefited from officiating bias. Conveniently, they ignore the two clear penalties that were not awarded in the match—one for an evident handball by Giuliano and another for a blatant foul on Brahim.

The Same Old Story

This is nothing new. Real Madrid, the undisputed kings of Europe, are always judged by a different standard. Public discourse rarely focuses on controversial decisions that go against them but amplifies any potential doubts regarding calls in their favor. Some even complain about the rules themselves when the referee applies them correctly.

Such scrutiny is simply the price of being the greatest football club in history. Envy, resentment, and hostility toward Real Madrid have only grown in recent years as they continue to dominate European football.