Chelsea fans may count themselves unlucky after a couple of penalty shouts that didn’t go in their favour during the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Chelsea suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, with a 71st-minute strike from Antoine Semenyo separating the sides.
However, it wasn’t without its controversy, as a couple of unrewarded penalty appeals left some Blues supporters furious.
The biggest talking point arrived just before halftime when Joao Pedro surged into the box and was sent flying by Abdukodir Khusanov. Despite furious protests from Chelsea players and fans over what appeared to be a cynical body check, VAR swiftly cleared the incident.
The frustration compounded in the second half when a late, clumsy challenge by Khusanov on Jorrel Hato was also waved away, leaving Chelsea to rue refereeing decisions on a trophy-less afternoon.
There were a number of questionable calls from VAR and Darren England🤔
Chelsea penalty incident during FA Cup final against Man City
Via – ITV Live Coverage
Mark Clattenburg denies Chelsea penalty shout
Speaking on the incident involving Jorrel Hato and Khusanov in the second half, Mark Clattenburg felt as if it wasn’t a penalty and he would have been surprised if it was given.
“I would have been surprised if Chelsea would have been awarded a penalty for a challenge by Abdulodir Khusanov on Jorrel Hato inside the penalty area. Khusanov was stronger in the challenge and even if there was a contact, this contact was mutual and a coming together of two players.”
You can understand where Clattenburg is coming from, but had the penalty had been given, then the decision of a penalty would no doubt have stood.
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Chelsea v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Mark Clattenburg also brushes off the Joao Pedro incident
Clattenburg also disagreed on the penalty shout that saw Khusanov come across the front of Joao Pedro, suggesting it was more of a shoulder-to-shoulder.
“Andulodir Khusanov comes across Jai Pedro on the edge of the penalty area. There is a contact but I would have been again surprised if a foul and penalty was given as Khusanov was stronger and it was shoulder to shoulder.”
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