Greater than 1 / 4 of the fit had elapsed and Erling Haaland’s contact depend stood at a trifling six, one each and every 4 mins.
But, Haaland did not wish to contact the ball to impress the primary spark in what have been a subdued opening between Manchester Town and Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Marc Cucurella did not make touch with the ball both however used to be deemed to have touched Haaland just a little too forcefully for Anthony Taylor’s liking, conceding a first-half penalty which the Norwegian ruthlessly dispatched.
In the similar week that Chelsea duked out one of the most craziest – and maximum arguable – contests in fresh Premier League historical past, the officers have been once more within the highlight on Sunday.
Haaland slots it easily into the ground nook! 😮💨⚽ percent.twitter.com/xg2EnuqZ3N
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 12, 2023
Whilst Town aimed their first thrust of the transfer down the left-hand facet of Chelsea’s field, Haaland started to tangle with Cucurella out of the referee’s view. The ball used to be ultimately aimed on the prolific quantity 9 however Haaland tumbled to the turf.
Cucurella had an arm cradled below Haaland’s abdomen, theoretically offering sufficient touch for a modern day penalty. Alternatively, replays confirmed that Haaland had initiated the grappling, pulling Cucurella’s sleeve to propel himself in entrance of the defender who then desperately attempted to rectify his compelled misstep with an instinctive tug.
Jarred Gillett within the VAR room again at Stockley Park scrutinised the touch however did not stay on Haaland’s first offence – a lot to Jamie Carragher’s dismay on Sky Sports activities observation.
The far away officers did scrub again even additional to research a tangle which left Reece James at the turf however, with out sending Anthony Taylor to the observe, gave the all-clear. In the long run, this will have to have fallen below the class of a call that used to be no longer deemed to be “a transparent and obtrusive error”.
Previous this very week, Wolverhampton Wanderers supervisor Gary O’Neil flagged this explicit wording as one among VAR’s flaws in a gathering with PGMOL leader Howard Webb. Whilst the machine is below evaluate, there shall be no adjustments to this explicit mandate within the rapid long term.
Naturally, the verdict briefly break up the 2 fanbases of each and every concerned group. Chelsea’s supporters cried outrage whilst onlookers of a Town persuasion celebrated a function that – of their view – did not have any debate about it. Alternatively, a lot of neutrals have been left at a loss for words by means of the officers’ choice.
Now not certain about that being a pen 🤔
— Lucy Ward (@lucyjward_) November 12, 2023
Haaland obviously fouls Cucurella to get in entrance of him. How can that no longer be noticed? Dreadful.
— Adrian Clarke (@adrianjclarke) November 12, 2023
Others have been extra circumspect, recognising the tremendous margins in recreation on the elite stage.
The commentator mentioned that penalty choice is “simply any other that’s going to reason rage, dispute and fury.” I imply, it’s mainly a 50/50 name, it shouldn’t be inflicting rage or fury.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) November 12, 2023
Despite the fact that, some folks won’t ever be happy.
When any person arms me a Berol Handwriting device: https://t.co/6cC9E1kV1Y
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) November 12, 2023
