Premier League Reveals Reason For Chelsea’s Denied Penalty Appeal Against Leicester
VAR Decision Sparks Debate as Chelsea's Penalty Appeal Against Leicester Is Rejected.
Chelsea’s hopes of securing a penalty in their FA Cup clash with Leicester City were dismissed after referee Tim Robinson and VAR ruled there wasn’t enough contact for a foul. The decision sparked debate among fans and players, as Cole Palmer appeared to go down under a challenge from Leicester’s Luke Thomas.
Despite strong protests from Chelsea, the Premier League’s Match Centre later explained the reasoning behind the call. In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), they clarified:
“The referee’s call of no penalty to Chelsea following a challenge by Thomas on Palmer was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be minimal.”
#CHELEI – 2’
The referee’s call of no penalty to Chelsea following a challenge by Thomas on Palmer was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be minimal.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) March 9, 2025
The decision left Chelsea frustrated, especially since moments later, their opponents were awarded a penalty when Victor Kristiansen fouled Jadon Sancho inside the box. However, Chelsea-linked goalkeeper Mads Hermansen denied Palmer from the penalty spot, adding to the Blues’ frustrations.
Chelsea are currently pushing to secure Champions League qualification under Enzo Maresca. They sit fourth in the Premier League table, and with English clubs performing well in European competitions this season, there is a strong chance that a fifth-place finish could also be enough to secure a Champions League spot next season.
With Leicester struggling at the bottom of the table, Chelsea will be under pressure to take all three points as they aim to strengthen their hold on a top-four finish. However, this latest penalty controversy has only added to the intensity surrounding their campaign.
