Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher criticized the decision-making during Chelsea’s recent match against Nottingham Forest, highlighting a potential penalty that should have been awarded to Nicolas Jackson. Gallagher observed that Jackson was unfairly manhandled by Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina during a corner kick, but the referee chose not to intervene, allowing the game to continue without penalizing the foul.
Despite the contentious decision, Chelsea managed to secure a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest after initially falling behind 2-1 in the second half. Mykhaylo Mudryk opened the scoring for Chelsea early in the game, but Forest quickly responded with Willy Boly’s header to level the score. The failure to award a penalty to Chelsea during Jackson’s incident could have potentially altered the final outcome of the match.
Former Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi seemed to have secured the win for Chelsea with a goal, only for Nottingham Forest’s Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson to level the score once again, posing a challenge to Chelsea’s quest for a European spot. Despite the setback, Chelsea ultimately emerged victorious, but the controversial decision regarding the penalty call added intrigue to the match’s outcome.
However, in the midst of the match, there was an incident when Jackson was thrown by a Forest player during Chelsea’s corner. Although his appeals were waved away, Dermot Gallagher revealed it should have been a spot-kick, Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t Football.London), he said:
“I don’t know why the defenders do this. We saw one with Luton last week and [Jarrad] Branthwaite. You look at that; [Aina] has no intention of playing the ball, and it is such a massive risk.”
Chelsea have faced significant adversity this season due to what many perceive as incompetent refereeing decisions. It’s become evident that we’ve often found ourselves on the receiving end of these poor calls, and it’s not an isolated incident. This trend of decisions going against us has had a tangible impact on our matches and results.
One notable instance was during our match against Aston Villa, where a contentious decision occurred. Benoit Badiashile’s slight push on an opponent was deemed a foul, leading to a significant turn of events. This decision ultimately resulted in our opponents gaining an advantage, and it directly impacted the outcome of the match, potentially costing us crucial points.
It’s frustrating when even VAR, which is supposed to provide clarity and accuracy in decision-making, fails to rectify clear errors made by on-field officials. These lapses in officiating raise questions about the effectiveness and reliability of VAR in its current implementation. If VAR cannot consistently correct obvious mistakes and uphold the integrity of the game, then its value and purpose come into question.
These incidents highlight the need for greater consistency and accuracy in refereeing decisions. When matches are decided by controversial calls rather than the players’ performances, it undermines the integrity of the game and can have far-reaching consequences for the teams involved. It’s imperative that steps are taken to address these issues and ensure fair play for all teams competing.
Jadon Sancho has hit the ground running in his season-long loan at Chelsea, with the Blues eyeing a permanent deal…
Chelsea appear to be rediscovering their form under Enzo Maresca, aiming for a top-four finish as they currently sit third…
In their bid to further bolster their defense, Chelsea are aiming to make a big move for the star right-back…
Christopher Nkunku is keen to leave Chelsea in January over lack of game time in the Premier League There has…
Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is on the radar of Chelsea Chelsea are riding high in the Premier League, sitting…
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca eyeing defensive reinforcements in January Chelsea could well find themselves in the market to improve their…