05.02.2026 11:25
In the Spain King's Cup match between Real Sociedad and Alaves, the penalty awarded for Toni Martínez's shirt being pulled over his head went down in football history. The penalty, which came from a VAR decision, was saved by Alex Remiro, and the incident was described as "the strangest penalty of the last 100 years."
The match between Real Sociedad and Alavés in the Copa del Rey, which the home team won 3-2, witnessed an extraordinary penalty incident that will go down in football history. The moment that occurred during the match overshadowed the game itself and became the most talked-about event of the night.
AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT IN THE PENALTY AREA
In the second half of the match, Real Sociedad defender Duje Caleta-Car pulled the shirt of Alavés player Toni Martínez inside the penalty area. During the intervention, Martínez's shirt was pulled up to his head, completely obstructing his view and causing him to lose control of the ball. Referee Alejandro Quintero initially allowed play to continue, but after a VAR review, the incident was deemed a penalty.
"THE STRANGEST PENALTY OF THE LAST 100 YEARS" COMMENT
Former FIFA referee Eduardo Iturralde González described the incident as "the strangest penalty of the last 100 years." Iturralde emphasized the correctness of the decision, stating that the incident was one of the rare moments seen in football history.
REMIRIO DENIED THE PENALTY
As the clock showed 67 minutes, Toni Martínez took the penalty kick. Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro guessed the right corner and saved the ball, keeping his team in the game. This save was considered a turning point in the match.
"I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW IT ON VAR"
Speaking after the match, Alex Remiro stated that he did not notice the incident at first and was surprised by what happened when he watched it on the VAR screen. The experienced goalkeeper emphasized that if they had conceded a goal at that moment, the match could have completely slipped away from them.
HE EXPLAINED HIS PENALTY STRATEGY
Remiro mentioned that he was aware of Toni Martínez's previous penalty choices and acted accordingly, stating that the save was a conscious decision. Remiro, who recalled having previously conceded a penalty goal from Martínez, expressed his happiness for making a significant contribution to his team this time.
NATIONAL TEAM GOAL
The successful goalkeeper also spoke about his goal of joining the Spanish National Team. Remiro, who stated that he wants to participate in the 2026 World Cup, emphasized that he is ready to compete with Unai Simón, David Raya, and Joan García.