Former Premier League ref Keith Hackett criticized VAR for not providing enough assistance to referee Anthony Taylor during Chelsea’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester City. Taylor gave two penalties, one for each team. The first, awarded to City, was a result of Erling Haaland being impeded by Marc Cucurella. However, replays showed that Haaland initiated the contact, which VAR did not review, leaving Taylor to make the decision on his own. Hackett argued that Taylor should have been advised to take a second look, suggesting that he would have penalized Haaland instead. Jamie Carragher shared similar sentiments, criticizing VAR for only reviewing the end of the incident.
After the match, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino stormed onto the pitch to express his frustration with Taylor’s decision to blow the final whistle, potentially denying Raheem Sterling a chance to score the match-winner. Pochettino later apologized to the referees for his actions.
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Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.