Matt Scrafton's verdict on Burnley's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea
Burnley fans felt they could have been awarded not just one, but two penalties during their defeat to Chelsea.
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25 photos of Burnley fans arriving at Turf Moor for Premier League fixture again...](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/25-photos-of-burnley-fans-arriving-at-turf-moor-for-premier-league-fixture-against-chelsea-5413263 "25 photos of Burnley fans arriving at Turf Moor for Premier League fixture against Chelsea")
But before Chelsea’s first goal, the home side felt they ought to have been awarded a spot kick in what would have been bizarre circumstances – when defender Trevor Chalobah put his hand on the ball after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had passed a goal kick to him on the six-yard line.
Under FA rules, it states that “the ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves”, with no reference to the use of a hand.
There is recent precedent for this, with Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings being punished for exactly the same offence during last season’s Champions League game against Club Brugge.
Chalobah, however, faced no punishment and referee Peter Bankes allowed the game to continue.
While Scott Parker was at pains to stress Burnley’s defeat wasn’t down to the officials, he did question the call.
Parker vents his frustration during Burnley's defeat to Chelsea (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Parker vents his frustration during Burnley's defeat to Chelsea (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)
“To be honest, at the time I didn't even realise. I didn't even notice, so the ref or anyone else was not in communication,” he said.
“But I have just seen it back and, I mean, it does look like a penalty.
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“I remember one last year being given. I can’t remember what it was [he was then reminded of Mings’ incident] – yes, that’s the one, that was it.
“But the ball’s live. The keeper’s rolled it. You could tell by his next action that the ball's live. “So if you're really looking at the detail of it, spots the ball, he plays it to the centre half and then makes another angle, the ball's in play.
“But I’m not sitting here being critical, but I suppose that is why we’ve got VAR. But I don't know whether it went to it, I don't know whether they looked at it. It’s just one of those things.”
In the second-half, meanwhile, those of a Burnley persuasion were also left aggrieved when clear wrestling inside the box went unpunished as the players waited for Jacob Bruun Larsen’s corner to arrive.
It happened twice in quick succession, with Bankes opting to warn the players against pushing and shoving, rather punishing them with a foul.
“They managed the game well, didn't they? I thought they managed the game really well and probably showed that,” Parker added.
“Again, the one in the box, I don't know why he's pulled it up. Just let it go. As in, don't blow your whistle. Bring the ball into play. If someone's fouling, then just give the penalty.
“Obviously the ref said that he blew the whistle before the ball was live, so obviously it's not a penalty.
“But like I said, I don't want it to be that I'm complaining about a penalty or anything, it wasn’t about that.”
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