Cole Palmer narrowly avoided a major injury during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
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The incident occurred in the 22nd minute when Wilfried Ndidi, frustrated by Leicester’s poor start, launched a reckless tackle from behind on Palmer, catching the back of his ankle.
Despite the dangerous nature of the challenge, referee Andy Madley only issued a yellow card, a decision that left many pundits and fans baffled.
According to the Premier League match panel, VAR did not recommend a red card as the tackle was deemed to lack sufficient “intensity” and occurred in close proximity to Palmer, reducing its perceived severity.
Former player Joe Cole expressed disbelief at this rationale, highlighting the potentially season-ending consequences of such a challenge.
Fellow pundit Peter Crouch echoed Cole’s sentiments, questioning the inconsistency of decisions where minor altercations are punished more severely than tackles like Ndidi’s.
Palmer, fortunately, escaped unscathed despite coming into the game as an injury doubt. However, the debate over VAR’s decision-making persists, with critics arguing that the system should better prioritize player safety over technical interpretations.