The Manchester City player clearly hit the ball with his hand on Cole Palmer’s free kick. However, the referee did not even go to the VAR to review the play, which generated a great stir among fans and the sports press.
Manchester City, thirsty for revenge after their bitter elimination in the Champions League against Real Madrid, managed to reach a new final in the FA Cup after beating Chelsea almost in agony at Wembley. The only goal of the match came in the 84th minute, thanks to Bernardo Silva, who with an accurate shot sent the ball to the back of the net.
Despite the intensity of the match, Chelsea had several opportunities to open the scoring and obtain the victory, but their lack of forcefulness in attack complicated their aspirations. However, one play in particular sparked controversy and complaints from those led by Mauricio Pochettino.
In the 53rd minute, a Cole Palmer free kick hit Jack Grealish’s hand directly inside the area. Although the technical gesture of the English player seemed to indicate that he was trying to deflect the ball, several spectators and protagonists of the match argued that a penalty should have been awarded in favor of Chelsea.
The complaints were immediate, especially from the Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, who showed his discontent immediately after the play. However, referee Michael Oliver decided to continue with the match without even reviewing the action on the VAR, sparking outrage on the Chelsea bench and among its fans.
With this defeat, Chelsea secured another year without any trophy won, a worrying situation for a team used to fighting for titles. Currently, the blues are in ninth position in the Premier League, far from the European Cup qualification positions.
The next challenge for Chelsea will be to face Arsenal on Tuesday, April 23 at the Emirates Stadium, in a match valid for a pending duel on matchday 29 of the Premier League. Those led by Pochettino will seek to recover and return to the path of victory in a crucial match for their aspirations in the English league.
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