Real Madrid's controversial 4-2 penalty win...

Real Madrid’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals has sparked a major scandal in Spain. The controversy began with Julian Alvarez’s penalty, which was taken with both feet and was later ruled out after a VAR review. While the unusual penalty didn’t make history, it has dominated conversations in Spain, especially due to Atlético Madrid’s controversial elimination (2-2 on aggregate, 2-4 on penalties).

The Argentine World Cup champion had successfully converted a crucial penalty, but it was disallowed after VAR intervention, leaving some Real Madrid players, like Camavinga and Tchouaméni, bewildered. The lack of transparency from the VAR sparked heated debates in Spanish media, with journalists and former referees demanding clear explanations for the decision.

The incident also fueled accusations of bias toward top clubs, with some commentators suggesting that if the situation had involved Real Madrid, there would have been a much stronger reaction. The absence of images showing the decision further intensified the controversy, plunging Spanish football into a storm of criticism over the handling of refereeing and technology.