- Chelsea had a late penalty decision in their favor overturned during their Premier League match against Newcastle United.
- Referee Simon Hooper reversed his call following an on-field VAR review after Christopher Nkunku was brought down.
- The Premier League later released the official explanation for Hooper’s decision to cancel the penalty.
Chelsea secured a gritty 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday evening, ending their two-game winless streak in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson showcased his impressive form once again, netting his sixth goal of the season following excellent setup play by Cole Palmer.
Cole Palmer shines vs Newcastle United
The Blues were, however, pegged back by Alexander Isak’s finish from close range in the 32nd minute. After the break, Palmer showcased another moment of brilliance, beating Nick Pope at his near post to restore Chelsea’s lead.
Palmer ➡️ Neto ➡️ Jackson
The Chelsea boys strike early 🤩
📺 Stream #CHENEW on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/sPew3B3od1
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 27, 2024
As the clock ticked down, tension mounted for both teams. Substitute Christopher Nkunku was brought down in the box, prompting referee Simon Hooper to award a penalty.
Chelsea’s denied penalty against Newcastle came as Nkunku cut inside Dan Burn, whose arm appeared to make contact with the French forward.
However, VAR official Jarred Gillet called Hooper to the monitor, and after a pitchside review, the decision was overturned.
The decision is overturned. No penalty.
🔵 2-1 ⚫️ [90] #CFC | #CHENEW https://t.co/c8itAr1tTc
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 27, 2024
The Premier League has provided clarification on the penalty decision reversal.
“The referee initially awarded Chelsea a penalty for a foul by Burn on Nkunku. VAR determined that no foul occurred and recommended an on-field review.
The referee subsequently overturned the original decision, and play resumed with a drop ball,” they stated on their X account.
This victory marks Enzo Maresca’s first win against a team that finished in last season’s top eight, bringing them to 17 points on the Premier League table. They are set for a rematch against the same opponent in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.