Premier League release statement following ‘worst VAR call of 2024’ during Ipswich vs Chelsea
Enzo Maresca’s side faced early controversy as Ipswich Town secured a penalty in the 12th minute, with Liam Delap scoring his seventh goal of the season. The decision, however, sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits.
The incident unfolded when Ipswich’s Leif Davis played a ball through to Delap, who seemed to lose balance before colliding with Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen. Initially, it appeared Delap might have fallen on his own before contact occurred, leading to questions about the legitimacy of the penalty. Despite the contentious nature, VAR reviewed the call and upheld the referee’s decision, citing “sufficient contact” for a penalty.
Social media reactions reflected the controversy:
One fan observed: “The goalkeeper hits him with his knee, look at his knee only.”
Another argued: “He clearly goes to stand up then dives.”
Others criticized the decision further: “Even if he does clip him a little bit, the contact is extremely minimal. The sport died the day we started giving pens for anything.”
Adding to Chelsea’s frustration, Joao Felix thought he had equalized in the 27th minute, only for VAR to disallow the goal due to an offside in the buildup. The Premier League Match Centre clarified the decision, stating: “Felix’s goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position.”
Chelsea trailed 1-0 at halftime after a lackluster first-half performance, leaving fans and players disgruntled with both the officiating and the team’s display.
