‘Stupid law’ slammed as ex-refs chief ‘gobsmacked’ by Charlton vs Chelsea controversy: ‘Crazy’
Chris Kavanagh had to enforce a “stupid law” during Chelsea’s thrashing of Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Blues did not deserve to score from the penalty spot on 10 January.
In Liam Rosenior’s first game in charge since replacing Enzo Maresca, the Premier League put five goals past Championship opposition, topped off by two late goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.
Miles Leaburn got one back for the home side at The Valley, making it 2-1 at the time, after Rosenior made several changes to the Chelsea team for their FA Cup clash.
It was a simple win by the end, but it shouldn’t have been quite a thrashing for the Addicks, with goalkeeper Will Mannion punished for a very late challenge on Estevao inside the penalty area.
Chris Kavanagh creates controversy in Chelsea win vs Charlton
With just seconds remaining of the tie, Mannion was accused of bringing down Estevao inside the box, with Fernandez stepping up to convert the spot-kick to make it five on the night.
However, rewatching footage of the penalty incident, Hackett is not totally sold on Kavanagh’s decision, with yet more controversy emerging when the spot-kick was taken by Fernandez.
It was pointed out pretty quickly just how far Josh Acheampong had encroached during the penalty process, nearly moving alongside the kick-taker before it hit the back of the net.
While the former head of the PGMOL was okay with the goal counting, he raised questions over the original awarding of the decision, which may have been overturned had VAR been in operation.
Keith Hackett explains why Enzo Fernandez’s penalty stood
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “It’s never a penalty in a million years. I was gobsmacked when it was given. It’s a clear dive, and it’s a bad one, and I was just bemused by it.
“You don’t expect an experienced referee to point to the penalty spot if there’s any doubt. Crazy. Encroachment law and everything that goes with it…
“If a colleague of the kick-taker encroaches, which this player did, he’s only penalised if it impacts the goalkeeper. That’s why it was allowed, because the keeper wasn’t impacted. It’s a stupid law. What can we think of next?“