Ex-refs chief changes his mind on Chelsea controversy vs Burnley as new angle emerges
Trevoh Chalobah can count himself very lucky as Chelsea battled to victory against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
Chelsea won 2-0 at Turf Moor on 22 November, with Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez sealing all three points for a very animated Enzo Maresca on the touchline.
It was Chalobah who stole the headlines, though, handling the ball in the six-yard box despite Robert Sanchez appearing to already take the goal kick.
At first, Keith Hackett was adamant that a penalty should have been awarded.
Trevoh Chalobah committed clear offence in Chelsea win
Tyrone Mings sensationally gave away a penalty in the Champions League last season, picking up an Aston Villa goal kick against Club Brugge.
Despite that, Chelsea and Chalobah appeared to get away with one here despite complaints.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett was left scratching his head that Robert Jones on VAR did not help out Peter Bankes to award Burnley a penalty.
“The goalkeeper has restarted play and the defender has committed a clear handling offence,” the ex-PGMOL chief initially said.
“Only one outcome here is the award of a penalty kick.
“Why did referee Bankes not penalise this handball offence? Where was VAR Robert Jones?“
New angle shows what saved Chelsea vs Burnley
Despite no real explanation from the PGMOL or the Premier League, play was allowed to restart from the goal kick, with no punishment served.
Hackett, after seeing another angle of the incident, has the exact reasoning covered.
A wider angle of the handball shows that Zian Flemming was already in the penalty area when the offence took place, meaning a retake was the correct call.
“I just had a doubt – that’s why it was not penalised and the re-take was ordered.”
Chelsea would go on to seal an easy victory, solidifying their spot in the top four of the Premier League after Liverpool crashed to another defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Cole Palmer remains injured at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues will be hopeful that his return can coincide with a push at the Premier League title.