While he touched the ball twice while hitting his penalty, Jean-Philippe Mateta was entitled to a second chance, unlike Julian Alvarez against Real Madrid a few months ago. For what reason?
Manchester United didn’t have much to complain about, because the Red Devils managed to win at Crystal Palace (1-2) on Sunday afternoon, thanks to goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount. But there were things to highlight about the Eagles’ opener, signed Jean-Philippe Mateta, in the first period.
The French international deceived Senne Lammens from the penalty spot, but the referee saw that he had touched the ball twice, deflecting his shot to the right with his supporting foot (the left, therefore). In the process, Mateta was entitled to a second chance, and he scored for real, legally.
The story of the “double touch” on a penalty inevitably recalls the penalty shootout between Real Madrid and Atlético last March in the Champions League. At the time of his attempt, Julian Alvarez touched (very lightly) the ball a second time. After a quick intervention by the VAR, referee Szymon Marciniak canceled the Argentine’s goal.
Alvarez couldn’t strike out, why?
The Atlético striker was not given a second chance. And Real Madrid ended up qualifying (4-2 tab), much to the chagrin of the Colchoneros. How can we explain this difference in treatment between the two situations? In a very simple way.
In the meantime, probably due to the Alvarez episode, the IFAB (the body that governs football laws) has published a circular pour “clarifier” things in cases of “double touch” on penalties. And the instruction is therefore to give the shooter a second attempt if his error is judged to be accidental.
Extract from the IFAB text, published in June 2025:
“If the shooter accidentally hits the ball with both feet simultaneously or if the ball touches his supporting foot or leg immediately after the shot:
-If the penalty is successful, it must be withdrawn
-If the penalty is missed, an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee decides to give the advantage to the defending team) or, in the case of penalties, the shot on goal is counted as missed. »
