Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey didn’t mince words when criticizing Craig Pawson for his questionable decision that denied Chelsea a clear goal against Aston Villa. The Blues believed they had secured a late-minute victory when Axel Disasi nodded in the 94th minute, only for VAR to disallow the goal.

Villa got off to an impressive start, finding the back of the net through Marc Cucurella in just the fourth minute of the game. Before the interval, Morgan Rogers extended their lead, setting the stage for what seemed like another embarrassing defeat for the visitors.

However, in the second half, Chelsea managed to turn the tide around with goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher. As full-time approached, both sides had clear-cut chances but failed to convert them. Chelsea thought they had clinched the win when Disasi headed the ball home, but VAR detected a foul in the build-up to the centre-back’s goal.

The decision left Chelsea players angered as they protested after the final whistle, and former referee Halsey supported the players’ discontent, Speaking to the Sun (h/t Daily Express), he said:

“I was baffled as to why VAR got involved because it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. Referee Craig Pawson had a great view of the incident; he was looking directly at both players and allowed play to continue.’’

We were left frustrated yet again as a seemingly straightforward goal was denied due to what appeared to be minimal contact from Benoit Badiashile on the Villa player—a contact that hardly constituted a foul. The baffling decision by VAR raises questions about its purpose, especially when the on-field referee, Craig Pawson, had initially allowed play to continue after observing the incident.

This isn’t an isolated incident either. We’ve been on the receiving end of similar controversial decisions before, notably against Manchester City when a clear penalty was denied. Such decisions have far-reaching consequences, affecting not just our club, but the seasons of many others as well. It’s imperative that the authorities address these issues to ensure fairness and consistency in the game.

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The frustration is compounded by the fact that we were performing exceptionally well in the second half and appeared poised for victory. However, one poor decision from VAR cast a shadow over our efforts and denied us the result we deserved.

It’s crucial for VAR to fulfill its intended purpose of ensuring fairness and accuracy in football matches. When it fails to do so, it not only undermines the integrity of the game but also affects the outcomes of matches and, ultimately, the standings of teams. This raises legitimate concerns that need to be addressed by football authorities to restore confidence in the system.