Why was Beth Mead's first penalty disallowed? New Euro 2025 rule explained

Scottish Sun

28-07-2025

THE Lionesses retained their Euro title with a historic victory over world champions Spain, but it was not without controversy.
In a dramatic penalty shoot-out, Beth Mead was forced to retake England's first spot kick due to a new rule.
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Mead was visibly frustrated with the outcome of the new rule
Credit: Getty
Why was Beth Mead's first penalty disallowed?
Penalties are stressful at the best of times, let alone in a Euro final and even more so when the first one is ruled out.
Second-half substitute Mead found the back of the net with England's first kick, firing the ball down the middle of Spain goalkeeper Catalina Coll's goal.
However, during the kick, Mead had slipped over, and moments later, the Lioness was back, ready to retake her penalty after the first had been disallowed.
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Mead slipped on the grass, hitting the ball with her standing leg
Credit: Getty
A review of her first penalty found that when she slipped on the grass, Mead had accidentally kicked the ball twice, hitting it against her standing foot.
Normally, in situations like this, Mead's penalty would have been chalked off, with no chance to retake, but the new double-touch rule meant this was no longer the case.
What is the rule in detail?
The decision was made to introduce the double-touch rule after a controversial shootout in the men's Champions League this season.
Atletico Madrid were knocked out of Europe's elite competition by Real Madrid in the last-16 after a penalty from Julian Alvarez was ruled out following a VAR check.
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Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, meaning Atletico Madrid got knocked out
The striker had slipped when running up to shoot and subsequently double-touched the ball with both feet and VAR deemed it an illegal kick.
Atletico went on to lose the match 4-2 on penalties, sparking a furious reaction from Diego Simeone and fans.
The outrage over the incident prompted the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to alter Law 14.
IFAB acknowledged it would be unfair not to penalise a double touch at all and allow such kicks to stand as a goal, because goalkeepers can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball, and so instead, the offending player would be given a second chance.
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How did the rest of the penalties play out?
For the Lionesses, Mead's second chance was saved, but thankfully, this did not matter.
England prevailed 3-1 on penalties to take victory at Euro 2025.
It was the second time in the tournament's history that the final had come down to penalties, and safe to say it was a nail-biter, especially considering the absence of star player Lucy Bronze due to injury.
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Bronze revealed after the final she had played the whole tournament with a broken leg
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Hannah Hampton was an integral part of the eventual win, saving two of Spain's penalties.
But it was Chloe Kelly who slotted the winner in a moment which felt almost poetic, following her success at this tournament and a difficult season in the Women's Super League.
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Kelly lifted the trophy for the second time in three years after scoring the winner
Credit: EPA
Following their success, the King hailed their historic victory, three years after winning Euro 2022.
He said: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!'
And anything is possible after the Lionesses became the first senior England football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil and the first to retain a trophy after victory in 2022.