Mateta Retakes Penalty After Double Touch, Secures Palace Lead

Crystal Palace took a crucial first-half lead against Manchester United at Selhurst Park thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s retaken penalty in the 36th minute. The French forward initially saw his spot-kick disallowed due to a double touch, highlighting both VAR scrutiny and the updated laws of football.

The penalty was awarded after Lenny Yaro fouled Mateta in the box. Mateta struck the ball cleanly, but VAR review revealed that he had inadvertently touched the ball twice before it crossed the line. Previously, this would have meant the goal was void with no chance of retaking. However, under IFAB’s new regulations, which came into effect on 1 July, penalties that are accidentally double-touched may be retaken if the first attempt is successful.

On his second attempt, Mateta kept his composure, slotting a low shot past United goalkeeper Lamens to make it 1-0. The rule change was designed to prevent controversies similar to last season’s Champions League round-of-16 clash between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, where Julian Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed after a double touch, causing debate and frustration.

Under the previous law, a double touch resulted in an indirect free-kick to the opposition during the match or a missed penalty in shootouts. The new rule ensures fairness in cases of accidental errors while maintaining the integrity of the game.

Mateta’s successful retake not only gave Palace the lead but also served as a practical example of the law’s impact in top-flight football. Analysts suggest this will reduce contentious disallowed penalties and allow players to focus on execution without fear of accidental double touches invalidating their efforts.

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