Why Erling Haaland was awarded a penalty against Chelsea

• Referee Anthony Taylor awarded Manchester City forward Erling Haaland in the match against Chelsea
• Anthony Taylor deemed Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella to have fouled Erling Haaland
• Haaland appeared to have held Cucurella first before Cucurella pulled him down

Almost a quarter of the game had passed, and Erling Haaland touch count remained at a modest six, equating to one touch every four minutes. Surprisingly, Haaland’s influence on the Manchester City versus Chelsea match on Sunday didn’t require many touches of the ball. Instead, a controversial incident involving Marc Cucurella provided the spark that lit up the game.

In what had been a relatively subdued opening, Chelsea’s Cucurella found himself in the spotlight when he was adjudged to have made forceful contact with Haaland, resulting in a first-half penalty. The Norwegian striker, known for his clinical finishing, ruthlessly dispatched the spot-kick.

This incident unfolded in the same week that Chelsea was involved in one of the most chaotic and contentious contests in recent Premier League history. Once again, the officials took center stage on Sunday, raising questions about the consistency and interpretation of key decisions.

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As City initiated an attack down the left-hand side of Chelsea’s box, Haaland engaged in a physical tussle with Cucurella, just out of the referee’s line of sight. Although the ball was eventually directed towards Haaland, he went to the ground in a tangled mess with the defender. Cucurella had his arm under Haaland’s stomach, leading to the referee’s decision to award a penalty based on modern interpretations of contact in the box.

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland was awarded a penalty against Chelsea after a foul by Marc Cucurella. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

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However, video replays revealed that Haaland had initiated the grappling by pulling Cucurella’s sleeve, effectively propelling himself in front of the defender. This nuance was not immediately apparent to the on-field officials. In the VAR room at Stockley Park, Jarred Gillett scrutinized the contact but seemingly overlooked Haaland’s initial offense. This decision sparked dissatisfaction, notably voiced by Jamie Carragher in his commentary on Sky Sports.

Furthermore, the VAR officials reviewed an earlier tangle that left Reece James on the ground but opted not to send the on-field referee, Anthony Taylor, to the monitor. The decision not to intervene without a clear and obvious error frustrated observers, raising concerns about the consistency and effectiveness of VAR.

Earlier in the week, Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil had pointed out this specific wording as a flaw in VAR during a meeting with PGMOL chief Howard Webb. Despite ongoing reviews of the VAR system, there are no immediate plans to amend this particular mandate. The incident involving Haaland and Cucurella serves as a reminder of the challenges and controversies surrounding VAR, with discussions about potential improvements continuing within the football community.