Moment Axel Disasi stepped in to calm Benoit Badiashile confronting referee Craige Dawson after Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
Controversial VAR Decision Mars Chelsea’s Draw Against Aston Villa.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has criticized Craig Pawson’s officiating during Chelsea’s recent 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
The match was marred by a controversial VAR incident involving a last-minute disallowed goal for Chelsea, leaving both teams and fans in uproar.
Villa initially surged ahead with a 2-0 lead at half-time, courtesy of an own goal from Marc Cucurella and a brilliant solo effort from Morgan Rogers.
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However, Chelsea mounted a comeback in the second half, sparked by an inspiring team talk from manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher scored to level the scoreline, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
VAR controversy.
The game’s climax was marred by controversy when Craig Pawson, the match official, disallowed a late Chelsea goal by Axel Disasi. VAR intervened, spotting a foul in the build-up involving Diego Carlos and Benoit Badiashile, resulting in Disasi’s goal being overturned.
Pochettino and the Chelsea players were left incensed by the decision, as it appeared that the initial contact between Diego Carlos and Badiashile went unnoticed by Pawson.
Halsey, commenting on the incident, expressed his dismay, suggesting that Pawson’s failure to award a free kick to Villa initially exacerbated the situation.
Mark Halsey Statement Via The Sun.
“I was baffled why VAR got involved because it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. Referee Craig Pawson had a great view of the incident, he was looking directly at both players and allowed play to continue.
“If Pawson thought it was a foul by Benoit Badiashile on Diego Carlos then why didn’t he award a free-kick straight away? I felt it was a foul but Pawson had to give it in real time and then there wouldn’t have been a fuss afterwards.
“I’ve watched Pawson for a long time and he does not seem to make the big decisions and uses VAR as a back-up. Although we got the right decision, the process of how we got there is not how we should be operating VAR in the Premier League.”
The contentious decision has reignited the debate surrounding the effectiveness and consistency of VAR in football, with calls for greater clarity and transparency in its application.
As both teams reflect on the outcome of the match, questions linger over the role of officiating in shaping the course of crucial encounters in the Premier League.
