“Close to a penalty but this is what happened”…VAR expert finally explains mistakes on why Chelsea didn’t get Penalty against Man City
Chelsea players and fans were left furious after being denied a penalty during their FA Cup semi-final loss against Manchester City, after the ball seemingly touched Jack Grealish’s arm following a free-kick. But VAR expert Dale Johnson has now revealed why the Blues were not awarded a spot kick for the incident.
Saturday’s tie between the two Premier League behemoths was a game of fine margins, with Pep Guardiola’s side advancing to the final after a late goal from Bernardo Silva. Their west London opponents had numerous chances to beat the sky blue Manchester outfit, though, but wasted opportunities cost them dearly.
However, had Chelsea been awarded a penalty after Cole Palmer’s free-kick appeared to strike the arm of Grealish inside the box, the outcome of the tie could have been very different. The Blues players surrounded referee Michael Oliver immediately after the incident, while manager Mauricio Pochettino confronted the official after the game to ask why he didn’t check the monitor.
“From the touchline, it was difficult to see if it was a penalty,” he said. “I was talking [to the referee] because after Jesus [Perez] and my staff said it was a penalty. I only said to him, ‘Why not go and check the penalty on the TV?’.
“I think from what I saw [it was a penalty], but move on.”
I was close to a penalty but Expert Explains why Penalty Wasn’t Given to Chelsea
Days after the incident, though, VAR expert Johnson has explained why the offence was not penalised. Writing in his ‘VAR Review’ column for ESPN, the journalist explained that while a penalty might have been given a few years ago, today’s rules mean that an exemption can now be made for Grealish.
Johnson writes that the clause concerns the Man City player bringing his arm into his body as he makes contact with the ball. Because he is making his body smaller in the process, the referee can determine he was not deliberately trying to block the ball. Consequently, there is enough doubt to prevent a penalty being awarded.
Comparing the incident to when Martin Odegaard appeared to handle the ball for Arsenal against Liverpool, an offence which was deemed an error on behalf of VAR, the expert then points out the differences between that handball and Grealish’s. The 28-year-old was part of the wall which then split, resulting in his arm moving down to his side as the ball was kicked. That too raises doubt about whether the City player knew what he was doing or if the movement was natural, creating an exemption in the process.