Furious Noni Madueke has to be DRAGGED away by his Chelsea coaches and team-mates as he confronts referee Craig Pawson after VAR controversially rules out late winner in 2-2 thriller
Noni Madueke had to be dragged away from referee Craig Pawson after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
Madueke and his teammates thought they had secured a winner in the 96th minute when Axel Disasi headed home from close range to make it 3-2 in their favor.
However, the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR check during which Pawson consulted the pitch monitor.
Pawson disallowed the goal after claiming Benoit Badiashile had pushed Diego Carlos in the back in the build-up to the goal.
Madueke was furious with the decision and wanted to make his feelings known after the final whistle at Villa Park.
Noni Madueke had to be dragged away from referee Craig Pawson after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw
The striker was angry that the Blues did not get a winner when VAR disallowed a goal
Axel Disasi thought he had won the match for Chelsea, but the goal was disallowed by VAR
Madueke charged straight at Pawson and started shouting in his face before being stopped by Chelsea coach Jesus Perez.
Madueke and Benoit Badiashile reportedly said: “It’s wrong, you know it’s wrong. You know it. You know it!’ while pointing at Pawson.
Disasi, who scored the disallowed final goal, tried to calm Madueke down by grabbing him and running away from the situation.
However, it was a little too late as Pawson was not very impressed with Madueke’s behavior and awarded him a yellow card before speaking to Cole Palmer.
Palmer appeared to plead with Pawson before being led away by Chelsea’s backroom staff.
Once tensions subsided, Madueke was asked about the 96th minute goal. He told BBC Sport: ‘Should it have been three points? Yes.’
The 22-year-old continued: ‘Do I think the goal should have stood? Yes. Nothing further to say about the situation.’
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was equally unimpressed, saying VAR is ‘damaging English football’ after his side were denied an injury-time winner.
Madueke and Benoit Badiashile reportedly said: “It’s wrong, you know it’s wrong. You know it. You know it,” pointing at Pawson
However, it was a little too late as Pawson was less than impressed with Madueke’s behavior and awarded him a yellow card before speaking to Cole Palmer.
Referee Craig Pawson checked the on-field monitor and disallowed Chelsea’s winning goal
“Anyone who watched the match will be disappointed,” Pochettino told TNT Sports after the match.
‘Two different things: the referee said it was a foul, disallowed the goal and then went to VAR to confirm it.
‘The referee is unbelievable and it’s ridiculous. It’s hard to accept things like this in the semi-finals [FA Cup against Man City] two weeks ago it was handball and it was not a penalty, the referee did not check it.
‘It is painful because it has damaged English football and I think the Villa players and their fans did not understand why the goal was disallowed.
“They said it was a foul and when you see what happens when we do every challenge like this, it becomes a foul and we wouldn’t finish the game with 11. [players].
‘We can talk about the performance or the decision, it is harmful to the game. I’m calm and it’s just to help. Now we have to move on and it will be in the news with the disallowed goal.’
It looked like it would be another night to forget as Marc Cucurella’s own goal and a Morgan Rogers strike put Villa 2-0 ahead at half-time.
But Chelsea responded well and leveled before the stoppage time drama through Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was equally unimpressed, saying VAR is ‘harming English football’ after his side were denied a stoppage-time winner
Madueke scored in the 62nd minute to put Chelsea back into the match on Saturday evening
Villa may feel they have come away with one despite leading 2-0 at the break.
Aiming to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition for the first time, they were ready to move nine points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but looked leggy and not at their best.
The draw has opened the door for Spurs, who have three games in hand, but Villa will still be favorites to finish in fourth place as the north London club still have Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to play.
Pochettino will be pleased with his side’s performance and they still have a chance of qualifying for Europe if they can finish an inconsistent season strongly.