Chelsea were denied the more obvious penalty you’ll ever see during their draw with Brighton last night – and get this – it wasn’t even reviewed!
Thomas Tuchel’s men endured another frustrating evening on home turf, with Danny Welbeck’s 91st-minute equaliser all but ending their Premier League title hopes.
Chelsea also lost Reece James and Andreas Christensen to injury, intensifying Tuchel’s selection problems which have complicated the entirety of the festive period.
With a tussle with Liverpool up next, Chelsea could really have done with getting three points on the board last night – and could’ve done without being royally stitched up by the officials.
Unfortunately for Tuchel and co, both Mike Dean and VAR failed to spot a clear and obvious handball that denied Mason Mount what would have been a certain goal.
Didn’t see this in real-time. If denying an almost certain goal with your best Russell Westbrook impression isn’t a penalty – the game’s gone. https://t.co/21j1Qb5rUo
— Jamie Wilkinson (@jamiewiIkinson) December 30, 2021
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Dean’s view is obscured, but the whole point of VAR is to spot offences that were missed by the referee. There’s no justification for missing this handball.
What Dean cannot escape criticism for is blowing his whistle before Mount put the ball in the back of the net here. Was it actually a foul? Either way, why not let it play out?
Matt Sloan must have incredible eyes to see the blatant foul there pic.twitter.com/7RYmOZP4ti
— Ross (@Ross_Parke_) December 30, 2021
Not to mention the penalty appeal on Christian Pulisic…
lmao how is that not a pen?? FOH pic.twitter.com/9CDE5cZWeH
— amadí (@amadoit__) December 29, 2021
In both all three cases, Chelsea would have been 2-0 up and in a strong position to go on and win the game, should VAR have served its intended purpose. Instead, they’re left feeling robbed by ANOTHER officiating failure.
PGMOL need to take a look at themselves and acknowledge that they are quite simply not fit for purpose.
