By 90min | Created at 2025-01-20 11:18:39 | Updated at 2025-01-20 14:00:12
2 hours ago
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says his side received a written apology from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after the Blues were denied a penalty earlier this season.
"Two or three games ago I remember they didn't whistle for a penalty and then we got a mail apologising, that it should have been a penalty," Maresca told the assembled media ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Wolves on Monday night. "But we don't need apologies."
The Italian boss didn't name the game in question, but The Athletic claim that Maresca was referring to Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in their first outing of 2025.
While the Blues led 1-0 thanks to Cole Palmer's opener, Pedro Neto was felled in the box by Palace's retreating Tyrick Mitchell. Both the referee and VAR waved away the decision, yet former Premier League official Mike Dean strongly disagreed with the call. "I think Neto's got there first, knocked the ball away and Mitchell's caught him from behind," Dean told Sky Sports. "I think it should have been an intervention and a definite penalty."
Howard Webb, the technical director of PGMOL which is the governing body for England's referees, didn't address that incident on his January edition of Match Officials Mic'd Up and the Premier League's official Match Centre X account didn't provide an in-game explanation for the decision.
Pedro Neto was stunned by the referee's decision against Crystal Palace / Julian Finney/GettyImages
The Athletic claim that PGMOL sources flatly deny Maresca's allegation, insisting that no apology was issued to Chelsea regarding this penalty appeal.
Chelsea found themselves on the wrong end of a history-making VAR decision against Bournemouth earlier this month when on-pitch referee Rob Jones went against VAR's recommendation to send off Cherries forward David Brooks for a tug on Marc Cucurella.
It was put to Maresca that he may be embarrassed by the way his players have dramatically appealed for red cards and penalties which haven't been given. He bluntly disagreed.
"No, not at all," the former Leicester City boss huffed. "The other day for me against Bournemouth it was a red card. We are not going to change a thing.
"So the club, us, we are not embarrassed about this. Someone has to be embarrassed about this kind of thing but not us. I love my players, all of them."
