Atlético de Madrid Haven't Yet Digested Their Elimination from the Champions League in the round of 16 at the hands of Real Madrid.
They are trying to achieve in the offices what they couldn't win on the field. They are using new images of Julián Álvarez's irregular penalty to repeat the penalty shootout.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the International Union of Atlético Supporters' Clubs has prepared an expert report that detected anomalies in the UEFA video.
"The Impact Has Been International"
Eduardo Fernández, president of the Atlético supporters' clubs, stated: "There is a lot of movement because the impact has been international. I haven't stopped receiving WhatsApp messages, emails, and calls... Also from Atlético lawyers who offer to collaborate with us altruistically."
Fernández laments the media treatment they are receiving: "There are media outlets and communication professionals who are turning a blind eye. Others who are directly betting on silencing it. But we haven't had any pressure."
The president of the Atlético supporters' clubs keeps in Mundo Deportivo that "it seems evident that something strange has happened. I wouldn't dare yet to say that there is a case of competition adulteration. But I believe that the indications are already more than enough to think that there has been a non-transparent, even illegitimate, conduct here."
He warns that: "we have given UEFA the opportunity to provide explanations, to provide the original video, to provide the audios. And to convince us all. They have the opportunity to prove that these are unfounded suspicions."
A Manipulated Video
The conclusion of the work of the Atlético supporters' clubs is that "we are absolutely convinced that this video has been edited with evident manipulation purposes. We have not the slightest doubt."
It is based on the fact that "it is practically impossible to edit this video in 30 seconds. To pass it to the VAR, for the VAR to see it and tell the referee that the goal must be annulled."
He adds: "we are very clear that, contrary to what UEFA says, this video was not seen by the VAR. We believe that the VAR saw the same images that we all saw...
And that this video was a UEFA alibi. To say see, see how there was nothing strange, see how the goal was correctly annulled."
The report was made by the company Life: "We did a casting. We contacted several professionals and several companies dedicated to this. We needed a very serious and rigorous report."
They Seek to Repeat the Penalty Shootout
The objective of the International Union of Atlético Supporters' Clubs is to go "to the last consequences. As far as we have to go materially, we will not stop until the law allows us to go. We are going to request that the shootout be repeated."
If UEFA doesn't respond with a convincing explanation, they will file a complaint: "They will not stop us. And if we have to go to Switzerland, we will go to Switzerland."
Regarding the chances of the claim succeeding, Eduardo Fernández indicates: "We see few chances of the shootout being repeated. By the time it reaches the end, not only will the next Champions League round have passed, but the Champions League will even be over, so I see it as very complicated."
He adds: "But if we manage to prove that there has been bad faith and competition adulteration, we will demand all kinds of responsibilities in criminal proceedings against those responsible. We will seek moral reparation."
Atlético are outraged because "UEFA could have said, 'Gentlemen, we made a mistake. They made a mistake, they misinterpreted the rules...'
This can't be repeated, and we publicly apologize. And we will see how we can repair this club and this fanbase that have been harmed. But they didn't do it, and that has further inflamed our spirits."
The chances of UEFA backing down and agreeing to repeat the penalty shootout are nil. Atlético is simply exercising their right to complain.