Wilfred Ndidi avoided a red card after making a dangerous tackle on Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer during a Premier League match at the King Power Stadium. In the first half, Ndidi’s studs connected with the back of Palmer’s right ankle, leaving the young Chelsea player clearly in pain. While many felt the challenge merited a red card, VAR ruled otherwise, determining that the foul lacked sufficient “intensity” to justify more than a yellow card.
The decision sparked significant backlash from fans and pundits alike, with former Chelsea star Joe Cole leading the criticism. Speaking during halftime on TNT Sports, Cole strongly condemned Ndidi’s actions, suggesting the Leicester midfielder had no intent to play the ball.
Instead, Cole argued, Ndidi appeared to deliberately target Palmer, pointing out that Ndidi’s right foot was aimed directly at Palmer while his left foot followed with an attempted swipe. Cole suggested Ndidi’s frustration with Leicester’s performance contributed to the reckless challenge and firmly stated that a red card would have been the appropriate punishment.
Cole also discussed the broader implications of the tackle, noting that Palmer almost scored an equalizer later in the match. He speculated that had Ndidi played a role in a Leicester comeback, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca would have been furious with the officiating decisions.
TNT Sports presenter Lynsey Hipgrave relayed the explanation from the Premier League Match Centre regarding the VAR decision. The officials justified the yellow card by citing the short distance between Ndidi and Palmer at the time of the foul and a perceived lack of intensity in the tackle. However, Cole was visibly unimpressed with this reasoning, shaking his head in disapproval during the broadcast.
Chelsea fans expressed their outrage on social media, accusing officials of failing to adequately protect Palmer. Many highlighted that this was not the first time Palmer had been on the receiving end of a dangerous challenge that resulted only in a yellow card. Supporters called for stricter enforcement to safeguard players, particularly talented young stars, and demanded greater accountability from referees.
The incident also drew comparisons to a similar tackle earlier in the season by Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez on Palmer, which likewise earned only a yellow card. These repeated incidents have reignited debates over the consistency and fairness of Premier League officiating, as well as the effectiveness of VAR in ensuring player safety.
While Chelsea ultimately won the match, the controversy surrounding Ndidi’s challenge overshadowed the result, intensifying calls for higher standards in officiating and better protection forplayers.
