Madrid mayor Almeida: 'We all have right to know what happened in Alvarez penalty video'
In the UEFA Champions League round of 16, Atletico Madrid fell to rivals Real Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout, missing out on a quarter-final spot. The pivotal moment came when Atletico striker Julian Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed due to a double touch, a decision that sparked widespread controversy. Madrid mayor and passionate Atletico fan Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, still reeling from the defeat, addressed the incident in a recent interview.
"Barcelona are seeing everything through rose-tinted glasses now. We were too, until Alvarez’s double touch. Things can unravel in seconds, so watch out, Barca - if Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey, La Liga will follow. It’s hard to accept what happened; it was a glaring injustice, utterly cruel.
"I support the Atletico supporters’ union investigation, and as a fan, I’m joining it. I want to know what happened, the decision’s modus operandi, and what’s in UEFA’s penalty video. We must pursue this to the end - for football’s sake, we have the right to know what occurred that night," Martinez-Almeida stated.
On April 4, the International Union of Atletico Supporters’ Clubs released an expert report alleging editing and manipulation in UEFA’s penalty footage, published the day after the match to justify the call.
