The Manchester City players expressed their frustration with the referee on February 17th, following what they believed to be a blatant handball by a Chelsea player that went unnoticed.
This contentious decision resulted in the Cityzens dropping two crucial points in an enthralling match at the Etihad Stadium.
In a twist of fate, Raheem Sterling, formerly of Manchester City, capitalized on an incredible counterattack to give Chelsea the lead, adding insult to injury for his former team.
Despite their commendable effort throughout the game, Mauricio Pochettino’s side failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities and could have potentially secured victory had it not been for some wasteful finishing.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s leading goal scorer, will undoubtedly be ruing a missed opportunity that could have secured victory as the game reached its conclusion. However, City also had their fair share of chances.
In the dying moments of the game, Rodri managed to salvage a point for Manchester City with a powerful shot that deflected off Trevor Chalobah and into the net.
The controversy arose when Manchester City players vehemently protested a potential handball by Chelsea defender Colwill in the penalty area. Referee Andy Madley consulted the VAR system but ultimately dismissed the incident.
According to the regulations set forth by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), a handball offense occurs when a player deliberately handles the ball or makes their body unnaturally bigger to block the ball.
In this instance, Colwill’s actions did not meet the criteria for a handball offense, as his arm remained close to his body, and there was no deliberate attempt to play the ball with his hand.
Following the draw, Manchester City finds themselves trailing league leaders Liverpool by four points and occupying fourth place in the standings. Their next Premier League fixture will see them face Brentford at home.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will shift their focus to the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday, February 25th.
Additionally, a notable incident involving Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez, stemming from the Man City vs. Chelsea game, garnered attention.
Jackson’s frustration with Enzo, sparked by a missed penalty kick, was captured in a viral video where both players appeared to dispute over who should take the shot.
