European football is set to witness a significant change in penalty rules, with the International Football Association Board (Ifab) clarifying that accidental 'double-touch' penalties will be allowed to be retaken - but only if the kick was successful. This decision follows a controversial incident in Atletico Madrid's Champions League match against Real Madrid, where Julian Alvarez's slip led to his penalty being disallowed despite scoring.

The clarification to Law 14 states that the kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player. While referees had previously penalized players for accidental double touches, Ifab now acknowledges the need to allow such kicks to be retaken if they result in a goal. In cases of unsuccessful attempts, an indirect free-kick will be awarded to the defending team in regular matches or counted as a miss in shootouts.

Social media reactions to the rule change have been mixed. While some believe the decision is fair and aims for consistency between goalkeepers stepping off the line and penalty takers, others argue that penalties already favor the attacker and slipping should not grant a second chance at scoring.

The updated law will come into effect on 1 July, affecting competitions starting before that date, including the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup in the United States. The move is seen as a bid to address inconsistencies in penalizing accidental 'double-touch' penalties and ensure fairness in penalty situations moving forward.