By DOMINIC HOGAN
Published: 14:04 EST, 28 November 2024 | Updated: 14:16 EST, 28 November 2024
Both Joe Cole and Peter Crouch were full of praise for referee Serdar Gozubuyuk, after the official stuck with his original decision despite being sent to the pitchside monitor in Chelsea's Conference League clash with Heidenheim.
Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at half-time in the Conference League, their first time going in at the break not ahead in the competition, before Christian Nkunku broke the deadlock soon after.
The Blues were stymied for the most part by Heidenheim - playing against an English side for the first time in their history - but thought they had a golden opportunity to get off the mark in the first half.
With 33 minutes on the clock, Mykhailo Mudryk thought he had earned his side a penalty, but referee Gozubuyuk was not convinced.
Yet the VAR appeared to think otherwise, and recommended that the Dutch official go to the monitor and reconsider his decision - something which mostly sees the call reversed.
However on this occasion Gozubuyuk stuck with his guns, judging the contact on the Ukrainian was not enough to merit a spot kick.
Serdar Gozubuyuk stuck with his original decision not to give Chelsea a penalty on Thursday
Mykhailo Mudryk was deemed to have gone down too easily under a challenge at the end of the first half
Mudryk was then slammed for going down 'theatrically' by Chelsea legend Joe Cole at half-time
Both Cole and Crouch in the studio at half-time were full of praise for the Dutch referee, and hailed his decision.
'We don't often see it so credit the ref, he's got it spot on,' Cole began on TNT Sports.
'Mudryk got it in the pocket, and look at this electric pace as he drives in. Clumsy from the centre half but when you see it from the other angle he doesn't actually touch, it's a clip there's not enough.
'Mudryk goes down theatrically. It's the right decision by him, and I'm glad he had the hearsay (sic) go to the monitor and stick to his guns.'
Crouch was full of agreement, suggesting that Mudryk 'initiated' the contact, but that the referee was right to make his 'brave' call.
'It's brave from the referee, quite often when they go over there you think they're automatically going to give it,' he added.
'I thought he came to the right decision there I don't think there was enough. Mudryk put his shoe into his shin and initiates it. It wasn't enough for a penalty and well done to the referee.'
MORE TO FOLLOW.