After a contentious ruling that overturned a penalty for Chelsea, VAR once again stirred up controversy during their match against Brighton.
Initially, Chelsea was awarded a penalty in the first half when Facundo Buonanotte was deemed to have fouled Marc Cucurella.
However, replays indicated that Buonanotte had cleanly won the ball with a well-timed tackle. VAR intervened, prompting referee Michael Salisbury to review the incident on the video screen.
Ultimately, Salisbury reversed the penalty decision but instead of awarding a corner to Chelsea, he inexplicably called for a drop ball.
News quickly spread that Premier League clubs were set to vote on whether to retain VAR, reigniting the debate surrounding its effectiveness. Confusion abounded on social media as fans dissected the controversial outcome.
One commenter opined that while the decision to overturn the penalty was correct, Chelsea should have been awarded a corner instead.
This sentiment was echoed by others who questioned why Chelsea didn’t receive a corner if the penalty wasn’t upheld.
The inconsistency of refereeing decisions in the Premier League was a common refrain among frustrated fans.
Many expressed bewilderment at the outcome, lamenting the lack of clarity in officiating.
Some argued that if Chelsea wasn’t awarded a penalty, they should have been given a corner as compensation.
However, the decision to award neither left many scratching their heads and venting their frustrations online.
Despite the contentious VAR decision, Chelsea managed to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark. Cole Palmer rose to the occasion with a powerful header, connecting with Cucurella’s precise cross to put Chelsea ahead.
