The Manchester City players were left frustrated on Saturday, February 17, as they felt aggrieved by the referee’s decision not to award a penalty for what they believed to be a clear handball by a Chelsea player.
In a highly anticipated match at the Etihad Stadium, the Cityzens were involved in a captivating encounter but ultimately dropped two crucial points in the title race.
Raheem Sterling, facing his former club, opened the scoring for Chelsea with a superb finish following a swift counterattack by the visitors.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side put in a commendable effort throughout the game, posing a constant threat to City’s defense and coming close to securing victory if not for some wasteful finishing.
City, however, also had their opportunities, with their leading scorer Erling Haaland missing a glaring chance late in the game.
Rodri managed to salvage a point for City with a late equalizer, his powerful strike deflecting off Trevor Chalobah and finding the back of the net.
The controversy arose towards the end of the match when City players vehemently argued for a penalty after a perceived handball by Chelsea defender Colwill in the box.
Despite protests and VAR review, the referee chose not to penalize Colwill, citing the regulations regarding handball incidents set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
According to the regulations, a handball offense occurs when a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, making their body unnaturally bigger.
In Colwill’s case, his arm made contact with the ball unintentionally, and he kept his arms close to his body, showing no intent to control the ball.
Following the draw, City currently sits in fourth place in the league standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by four points. Their next fixture sees them facing Brentford at home in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be focusing on their upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday, February 25.
