Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso goal disallowed vs. Real Madrid by VAR, but was there a handball? Social media reaction is split
Chelsea have produced one of the greatest away Champions League performances in their history as Thomas Tuchel’s side completely flipped their quarterfinal series at Real Madrid.
Despite trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel called on his players to write a new chapter of history in Madrid, and his stars reacted.
Goals either side of the break from Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger leveled the series on aggregate and then came one of the turning points as the visitors looked to take control in the Spanish capital.
The main moment of controversy on 61 minutes as Marcos Alonso’s piledriver was eventually ruled out by VAR at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
MORE: Real Madrid vs. Chelsea updates & highlights
Watch the goal in the USA:
MARCOS ALONSO. AGAINST HIS FORMER CLUB. BUT IT’S RULED OUT. pic.twitter.com/OBYIn1FBTC
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
Watch the goal in the UK:
Chelsea thought they had gone ahead in the tie…
But after a VAR review, it was judged Marcos Alonso handled the ball in the build-up to scoring
Harsh or fair?#UCL pic.twitter.com/WYVjIN9ppw
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 12, 2022
Why was Alonso goal ruled out?
As the traveling Chelsea fans celebrated high up in the stands, referee Szymon Marciniak was immediately told by his assistants to consult VAR due to a possible handball against Alonso.
Alonso did not intentionally handle the ball inside the Real Madrid box, but the force of N’Golo Kante’s pass into him ricocheted onto the Spaniard’s hand.
Marciniak made his decision within less than 60 seconds of consulting the pitchside monitor before ruling the goal out.
The Alonso goal would have put Chelsea up 3-0 at that time. With Timo Werner also finding the back of the net in the 75th minute, Chelsea’s four goals would have seen them advance to the semifinals.
Since Chelsea were left on three goals, Real Madrid’s goal with 10 minutes remaining, made it 3-1, sending the match to extra time where Karim Benzema scored again, putting Chelsea on the ropes.
How has Twitter reacted to the decision?
There was reaction on both sides of the argument, with a few more expressing outrage that that goal was not allowed to stand.
This hand ball rule…
— Ben Chilwell (@BenChilwell) April 12, 2022
Never in a million is that a handball lol! It hits him at a fast speed in a totally natural area
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) April 12, 2022
Common sense is gone from football as it currently stands. https://t.co/MwH3liAuET
— Henry Tomlinson (@HenryTJourno) April 12, 2022
It’s quite clearly handball for Alonso, no matter how harsh.
Not really sure where the issue is.
— Ben Browning (@BenBrowning3) April 12, 2022
That’s harsh but, well, them’s the rules. https://t.co/P0V6nqhW8O
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) April 12, 2022
That is a travesty of a decision, how on earth that can be given as a handball is mental.#CFC | #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/WD8X6BikUo
— Henry Tomlinson (@HenryTJourno) April 12, 2022
That’s an absolute scam, how’s he supposed to stop that touching his hand
— Tom Levins (@TomLevins1) April 12, 2022
I honestly can’t believe that’s been given as handball
— Liam© (@liamb0117) April 12, 2022
AWFUL RULE
— CFC-Blues ️️ (@CFCBlues_com) April 12, 2022