Former striker and football pundit Alan Shearer has slammed VAR official Jared Gillett and referee Andy Madley for a "terrible" decision in Chelsea's win over West Ham on Saturday. It comes as the Hammers had a late equaliser overturned by the officials after a series of checks.
The Blues will have felt relief to hear the final whistle after a tense game where they were far from their best against their London rivals. After a first half without a shot on target, the visitor's took the lead at the hour mark, with Michail Antonio scoring the opener.
Substitute Ben Chilwell changed the game for Thomas Tuchel, scoring the equaliser before assisting Kai Havertz in the 88th minute of the game. David Moyes thought his side grabbed a late point though, with Maxwel Cornet firing home in injury time to trigger scenes of jubilation from those of a Hammers persuasion.
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After the celebrations calmed down, the referee was soon asked to check the pitchside monitor for a potential foul on Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. In the build-up to the strike, England international Jarrod Bowen had nowhere to go as the onrushing Mendy lost control of the ball, opting to jump over the goalkeeper.
The Senegal international stayed on the ground, seemingly in pain after Bowen's foot made contact on his shoulder. Moyes suggested the keeper made the most of the contact, however the officials saw it as a foul, overturning the goal in controversial fashion.
After the game, Tuchel told the media he thought it was a foul, claiming that Mendy's shoulder was in some pain after the supposed challenge. However, Shearer wasn't quite as convinced as the Chelsea boss, venting his frustration on BBC's Match of the Day.
"Before we start Gary [Lineker]," Shearer started. "Minimal interference, maximum benefit was what we were told when VAR was brought in. This decision we're about to see is as bad a decision as you're gonna see at least for half an hour before we see Newcastle [laughs].
"They're told to stay out of it, the VAR Jarred Gillett [the VAR official], there's no need to get involved in this, this is never ever ever a foul. And I don't think anyone at the game who has played the game will agree with the VAR Jarred Gillett and the referee Andy Madley.
"The keeper goes down because he realises he's made a rick, Bowen is trying to get over him and actually steps over him, doesn't interfere with him whatsoever. We saw Michael Oliver when he went over to the monitor to stick to his decision [in Bournemouth's win vs Nottingham Forest], why doesn't he [Madley] stick to his decision?
"It's a terrible, disgraceful decision. It is beyond terrible. Players and managers and football clubs have been let down today, it's a terrible day and as we said, we've still got to discuss other decisions."
The Blues' victory wasn't the only game to be on the end of some refereeing calls that caught the eye, with the likes of Newcastle against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa's clash with Manchester City causing many to vent their frustration or raise an eyebrow. Chelsea were aggrieved when they appeared to be on the other end of unfortunate decisions against Tottenham earlier this season.
However, it seems as though questions continue to be raised over how these decisions are made, with the Cornet strike the latest of the saga.
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