Atletico Madrid have issued a statement following their elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, expressing their frustration over a VAR decision during the penalty shootout.

The controversy stemmed from the decision to annul Julian Alvarez’s penalty after VAR determined he had made two contacts with the ball.

The incident occurred during the fourth penalty of the shootout in the round-of-16 clash, which Los Blancos won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Alvarez’s penalty initially found the back of the net past Thibaut Courtois but was ruled invalid after a VAR review.

Atletico Madrid argued that the decision was an error in the application of VAR and stated it caused “great frustration” and “tremendous damage” to their team and fans. “The VAR error will not change the outcome, but it has taken away the hopes of millions of fans,” the club stated in their official release.

The club reviewed the footage and questioned the ruling, arguing that the video evidence did not clearly show a double touch. They cited FIFA’s Law 14, which states that for an infraction to be penalised, the ball must be clearly moved by the player in a second touch—something they claim was not evident in this case.

However, UEFA defended the decision, explaining that Alvarez’s foot did indeed make two contacts with the ball, even though the second touch appeared to be accidental. UEFA confirmed that the call was in line with current regulations and stated that they would consult FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to determine whether the rule should be adjusted in cases of unintentional double touches.

Despite their disappointment, Atletico Madrid acknowledged their respect for refereeing decisions and shifted their focus to their upcoming match against Barcelona.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with yet another dramatic victory over their city rivals.