Jamie Carragher strongly criticized the decision to award Manchester City a penalty against Chelsea, deeming it unjust. The reigning Premier League champions secured a spot-kick in the first half when Erling Haaland was fouled by Marc Cucurella, but the ambiguous nature of the incident left Stamford Bridge spectators bewildered.
VAR examined the situation, reviewing a potential foul by Haaland on the Chelsea player before the takedown, sparking a potential debate. Despite the scrutiny, the original decision stood, prompting Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, to question the officiating team’s judgment.
On Sky Sports, Carragher expressed his disapproval, saying, “This is not right. I think that’s harsh for me because it looks like half of one, half a dozen on the other between Haaland and Cucurella.” He highlighted that VAR focused solely on the end of the tussle, overlooking the beginning where Haaland grabbed Cucurella’s shirt.
Carragher’s critique comes amid a challenging period for Premier League referees and VAR, with recent controversial decisions drawing criticism from managers, including Mikel Arteta.
Despite the disputed penalty decision, Haaland successfully converted, securing his 12th Premier League goal of the season. However, City found themselves trailing before halftime, with Thiago Silva equalizing from a corner, followed by Raheem Sterling putting Chelsea in the lead.
While Carragher believed the referee favored City and Haaland, the match unfolded dramatically, featuring Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez denying Haaland’s attempt and City leveling the score before halftime with a brilliant header from Manuel Akanji. The game’s twists and turns highlighted the ongoing debates surrounding refereeing decisions and VAR’s impact on match outcomes in the Premier League.
