Chelsea have been told they should have been given a penalty for Jordan Pickford's challenge on Malo Gusto. The Blues drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon but they could have come away with all three points had Chris Kavanagh awarded a spot-kick.
In a game of limited chances, Nicolas Jackson saw a header strike the post but it was what followed that became the big talking point. After his effort hit the upright, the loose ball fell to Gusto but just as he was about to unleash an attempt, Pickford flew out of his goal to close down the angle which saw him catch the Blues defender.
Gusto, after pulling out but still hitting the turf, did not appeal for a penalty at the time and now former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has issued his thoughts. "I wonder if the referee was in the best position to see that," he said on Sky Sports' Ref Watch.
"Pickford has chosen not to be a goalkeeper here, he's chosen to be an outfield player. If a fullback makes that challenge, he's going to give a penalty away.
"He leaps through the air, the only reason he gets the ball is because it touches his backside on the way through. He doesn't get the ball, the ball actually deflects off him." Sue Smith and Stephen Warnock, also on the panel, offered their verdicts after that with both of the belief it should have been a penalty.
"Gusto does him a favour," Smith said. "It's at minimum a penalty, if not a red card. It's dangerous and he doesn't touch the ball with his feet. If you run out at pace like that, you've got to win the ball. The fact he doesn't makes him a lucky boy."
Warnock added: "Pickford twists his body. He turns away from it. For me, you are massively endangering a player here. When you go to hit the ball at speed and you run at me... if I kick through you, I'm going to break my leg. I think it's a really dangerous challenge from Pickford. He's out of control."
VAR checked for a potential penalty but decided that there was no clear and obvious error which saw the game continue. Fresh off the incident being analysed, 70 per cent of Sky Sports viewers were of the belief it should have penalty.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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