Chelsea’s recent encounter with Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw, but the match was marred by controversy regarding Trevoh Chalobah’s opening goal. The central question remains: was Chalobah’s goal disallowed due to offside?
Goal Controversy: Chalobah and Offside Debate
In the second half of the match, Chalobah scored by flicking Reece James’ corner. However, Enzo Fernandez’s position during this play has raised eyebrows. Although Fernandez did not touch the ball, he was ahead of play, seemingly hindering Cristhian Mosquera from clearing it off the line.
IFAB Guidelines on Offside
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) outlines specific criteria for offside decisions:
- A player can be offside if they prevent an opponent from playing the ball.
- A player is offside if they challenge an opponent for the ball.
- A player can be offside if their actions clearly impact an opponent’s ability to play the ball.
Fernandez’s actions might fulfill all three criteria, calling into question the validity of Chalobah’s goal. Sky Sports News has reached out to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for clarification.
Technicalities of Offside Rules
It’s important to note that while Mosquera’s hand was in line with Fernandez, the Laws of the Game state that “the hands and arms of all players are not considered” in offside judgments. Instead, decisions are based on the sleeve line.
In this case, it appears that Fernandez was positioned ahead of Mosquera’s sleeve, which complicates the offside determination.
Broader Offside Trends in the Premier League
This latest incident is part of a series of subjective offside calls in the league. For example, Virgil van Dijk’s goal for Liverpool was disallowed against Manchester City because of a similar ruling involving Andy Robertson affecting play. In contrast, a goal by Murillo for Nottingham Forest was allowed against Liverpool despite Dan Ndoye being in an offside position, as he was deemed not to obstruct the goalkeeper’s view.
These discrepancies in officiating have raised significant concerns among fans and analysts alike, especially considering the potential implications for the title race this season.
