Chelsea were denied two penalty claims in their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Antoine Semenyo’s backheel goal in the second half was enough to seal the win for Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley. Chelsea, meanwhile, were aggrieved after they saw penalty shouts in each half turned down by referee Darren England.
First Incident: Joao Pedro vs. Abdukodir Khusanov
The first incident occurred in first half injury time when Joao Pedro was barged over inside City’s box by Abdukodir Khusanov. Peter Bankes, who was on VAR duty, checked the incident and decided not to call the referee over to the monitor to review the collision. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg told The Chelsea Chronicle: 'Andulodir Khusanov comes across Joao Pedro on the edge of the penalty area. There is a contact but I would have been again surprised if a foul and penalty was given as Khusanov was stronger and it was shoulder to shoulder.' Former Premier League official Darren Cann agreed with Clattenburg’s verdict as he told the BBC: 'No penalty for me, the two players came together, shoulder to shoulder, both within playing distance of the ball and the correct on-field decision was given.'
Second Incident: Jorrel Hato vs. Khusanov
Chelsea’s second penalty claim came after half time when Khusanov attempted to challenge Jorrel Hato but failed to win the ball. Once again, VAR reviewed Chelsea’s penalty claim but stuck with the decision of on-field referee England who waved play on. Clattenburg said: 'I would have been surprised if Chelsea would have been awarded a penalty for a challenge by Abdulodir Khusanov on Jorrel Hato inside the penalty area. Khusanov was stronger in the challenge and even if there was a contact, this contact was mutual and a coming together of two players.'
Interim Coach's Reaction
Speaking after his side’s defeat at Wembley, Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane said: 'In terms of the penalty incidents, I thought they’re tough calls but for me the Jorrel Hato and Khusanov collision in the box is a penalty, Jorrel gets in front and it’s a collision in the back, if that’s anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul. Very similar to last week at Liverpool with Joao Pedro and Frimpong, I said the same, thought that was a penalty as well, so sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.'
