Joao Pedro’s Brace Sends Blues to Final After VAR Overturns Key Decision
Referee Francois Letexier has opened up about his pivotal decision to overturn a penalty for Fluminense in Chelsea’s 2-0 Club World Cup semi-final victory, a call that could have changed the game’s outcome.
The Blues secured their place in Sunday’s final thanks to a dream debut from £60 million signing Joao Pedro, who scored twice against his former club. But the match took a dramatic turn in the 37th minute when Letexier initially pointed to the spot after Trevoh Chalobah appeared to handle the ball in the box.
With the MetLife Stadium crowd listening in—as the referee’s audio was broadcast live—Letexier reversed his decision after a VAR review, explaining: “After video review, the handball committed [by Chalobah] saw his hand in a natural position, meaning the offence is not punishable.” The overturned call proved crucial, as Pedro later sealed the win with a second goal.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised his team’s resilience and Pedro’s immediate impact. “We are very happy, very proud to play the final on Sunday,” he said. “This is the Club World Cup—the best clubs in the world are here. For us to be in the final is something special.”
The Italian also highlighted Pedro’s sharpness despite his recent break: “He was on holiday, so he’s fresher than the rest. But we know his quality, and today he showed it.”
Chelsea now await the winner of Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich, with a chance to lift the trophy this weekend. Meanwhile, Fluminense is left wondering what might have been if VAR hadn’t intervened.
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