Late penalty and questionable calls spark debate in Premier League showdown
Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea saw referee Rob Jones at the center of controversy in a match that was otherwise short on excitement. The final 20 minutes brought a flurry of contentious calls, starting with a penalty decision following a challenge by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on United’s Rasmus Hojlund. Sanchez’s tackle, which brought down Hojlund as he tried to control a long ball, led to a penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted, putting United ahead. However, Jones’ decisions left both teams questioning the officiating.
Earlier, both Chelsea and United had mild grievances. Chelsea players appealed for penalties after Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill tangled with United defenders Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez. United had a similar complaint, suspecting a foul by Fofana on Alejandro Garnacho. However, none of these incidents led to a full VAR review, allowing the game to flow but leaving both teams frustrated.
The pivotal moment came when Hojlund was fouled by Sanchez in the box. Although moving away from the goal, Hojlund went down under Sanchez’s outstretched arms. The penalty call, supported by VAR after review, gave United a chance to take the lead. Chelsea manager Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed frustration but accepted the penalty, while Sanchez, visibly upset, protested the call to no avail. The Premier League’s official account clarified, “The referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Sanchez on Hojlund. The VAR checked and confirmed the referee’s call.”
The drama didn’t end there. Chelsea quickly responded with an equalizer, suggesting a late spark in the game. However, intensity levels remained low until United’s Martinez clashed with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer toward the end. Martinez’s high, trailing leg caught Palmer on the knee as the Chelsea player attempted a counterattack, prompting calls for a red card. Commentator Gary Neville observed, “As a professional, I think that one where you leave your studs, you know you’re not getting the ball and you go in knee-high…you’re asking for a red card.”
After a VAR review, Stockley Park officials agreed with Jones’ decision to issue only a yellow card, deeming the tackle reckless but not dangerous enough for a red. Match Centre later clarified, “The referee issued a yellow card to Martinez for a challenge on Palmer. VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee’s call of no red card, deeming that it was a reckless challenge.” Former referee Mike Dean supported the decision, noting, “There’s not a lot of force in it; it’s more of a glancing blow.”
The call did not sit well with Chelsea players, who confronted both Martinez and Jones on the pitch. The timing—late in stoppage time—mitigated the impact, but it raised questions about the consistency of officiating in high-stakes matches. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca later voiced his dissatisfaction. “I think it is quite clear, almost for all of us, but the referees made a different decision,” he said, adding that Palmer was icing his leg in the changing room after the game.
When questioned on his exchange with Jones at full-time, Maresca said, “I just told him that when there’s no intention to go for the ball and the player goes for the legs, there’s no doubt about the decision. I think it is quite clear it is a red, yes.” Jones reportedly offered little in response.
In the end, both teams were left with mixed feelings over the 1-1 result, with officiating once again taking center stage in a match that could have been defined by a tightly contested performance.
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