In the clash between Manchester City and Chelsea on Saturday, February 17, tensions rose as the referee opted not to award a handball against Chelsea’s Colwill, leaving City players frustrated. Despite a thrilling match at the Etihad Stadium, City dropped crucial points, with Raheem Sterling scoring for Chelsea in a counterattack.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team displayed commendable effort, posing a constant threat, while City had their chances, notably Erling Haaland missing a clear opportunity. The game saw Rodri’s threatening attempt equalized late through a deflection off Trevor Chalobah.
Controversy ensued regarding Colwill’s handball near the end of the game. Despite City’s protests, referee Andy Madley, after VAR review, chose to overlook the incident. According to IFAB regulations, a handball offense requires a deliberate movement towards the ball, making the body unnaturally bigger.
In Colwill’s case, the defender’s arm made contact with the ball unintentionally, and he kept his arms close to his body, showing no intentional effort to control the ball.
As a result of the draw, City is now fourth in the rankings, trailing leaders Liverpool by four points. Their next Premier League match is at home against Brentford. Chelsea, on the other hand, will gear up for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25.
In another notable incident, a widely publicized altercation occurred between Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson during the match. Jackson, upset at Enzo for missing a penalty kick, expressed dissatisfaction with his teammate, creating a moment of tension.
The aftermath of the match leaves both teams with significant upcoming challenges and opportunities in their respective competitions.
