One Strange Penalty That Shook Copa del Rey: When a Shirt Tug Decided the Match
5 February 2026
The Odd Penalty That Made History
A Copa del Rey match between Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad produced a moment that will be tattooed on Spanish football history.
Dogi Kalita Kar, a Real Sociedad defender, caused an extraordinary, decisive penalty as Alavés ultimately triumphed 3-2 at Mendizorroza.
The Croatian center-back Toni Martinez grabbed his opponent by the shirt and dragged him over his head, blocking the view.
The moment was so offbeat that referee Alejandro Quintero initially overlooked it, only awarding the penalty after a VAR review.
Social media exploded with jokes and analysis, with former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez calling it the most surreal penalty of the last century.
Marca, for its part, remarked that more than a century of football had never seen a penalty like this.
Real Sociedad advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Alavés.
The moment sparked debate about officiating and entertainment value in football, proving that one bold tug can overshadow tactical prowess.
And yes, the VAR finally earned its popcorn.
Football fans left with more questions than answers, but smiles all around tonight.
Punchline 1: Even VAR needs popcorn when the plot thickens.
Punchline 2: In football, the shirt tug was the real draw.
