Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish fumes as Chelsea’s Thiago Silva avoids a red card for ‘blatant’ handball on Saturday afternoon.
Silva was fortunate to not be handed a red card, at least in the eyes of some fans, as the Blues took on the Eagles at Selhurst Park.
The west London outfit made a slow start in their first Premier League game under new boss Graham Potter with Odsonne Edouard giving the hosts an early lead, and things could’ve been even worse with Silva putting out an arm to prevent Jordan Ayew running towards the Chelsea goal.
Referee Chris Kavanagh showed a yellow card to the Brazil international with the original decision upheld after a VAR check to determine whether Silva had stopped Palace a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Thiago Silva wasn’t sent off for this… pic.twitter.com/swQ4PJ5AAP
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) October 1, 2022
Palace fans clearly weren’t happy with the decision made, and things got even worse for Patrick Vieira’s side when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the equaliser for Potter’s side and former Palace loanee Conor Gallagher won the game for Chelsea late on with a beauty.
Palace manager Vieira also made his feelings clear about the decision from the referee, and a few Palace players protested after the yellow card was shown to the Chelsea man. Those wanting a red were ignored, though, with referee Kavanagh sticking to his original decision.
Eagles chairman Steve Parish was also fuming with the decision,” Parish continued. “Honestly what is the point of VAR?” he asked. “We chop and change every week what it does what it thinks.”
“VAR must surely think that’s a red but not a ‘clear’ error! Even if it’s not a #dogso [Denial of goalscoring opportunity] which it is. He handballs it twice deliberately, one we play on so two yellows.”
Honestly what is the point of #var we chop and change every week what it does what it thinks. #Var must surely think that’s a red but not a ‘clear’ error! Even if it’s not a #dogso which it is He handballs it twice deliberately, one we play on so two yellows! #cpfc #epl
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) October 1, 2022
😂you can’t be serious – Jorginho literally broke the world record of amount of fouls committed before getting a yellow. https://t.co/TVNnv9LdLd
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) October 1, 2022
Chelsea manager Graham Potter: “We’re delighted with the result. It’s a tough place to come. I thought we started quite well but conceded from the first action into the box.
“Credit to the boys, they recovered well and did not let their heads go down. It was nice to get an equaliser and get back in the game.
“We had to survive moments as they are a good side with dangerous players. To be a goal down and come away with three points is fantastic so credit to the players.
“There’s character, that’s for sure. They could’ve felt sorry for themselves after conceding the goal but the players stood up all the way through.
“There was a collective spirit among the players. We are delighted with the three points.”
On whether Thiago Silva could have been sent off: “I thought it was touch and go. The fact he was quite far from the goal saved him and it could’ve gone the other way.
“It’s a close one, I can understand Patrick’s [Vieira] frustration. It’s a 50-50 one.”
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, who scored his first goal for the Blues against his former side Crystal Palace, speaking to Match of the Day, said: “It’s a very special moment to come on and get the winner and my first goal for Chelsea.
“It was written in the stars. Unfortunately it came against Palace but I’m just buzzing to get my first goal.
“Everyone knows how much I loved it here [at Palace] and I thank the whole club and the fans – even today with the reception they gave me.
“Hopefully I can build a bit of confidence with the goal and push on. I want to work as hard as I can for him [manager Graham Potter] and be available wherever he needs me, whether starting or coming off the bench.
“Obviously I want to start and I need to show him I’m good enough.”
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira: “We knew it’s a difficult team to play against. In the midfield they were really good but we are quite disappointed. We managed to score the first goal and conceded just before half-time.
“It was not the best period but in the second half we had some very good situations and I think the draw would’ve been good for both sides.
“You look at the squad they have and any player comes on will make their level high. It is a quality team we are facing but we deserved at a least a point.
“We just have to take it on the chin and get back for the next game.”
On whether Chelsea’s Thiago Silva should have been sent off, Vieira added: “He was very lucky, but this is the referee’s decision, VAR’s decision, it’s quite difficult to understand it and to accept it. I think it’s unbelievable how he managed to stay on the field.”
Fans gave their thoughts after the Crystal Palace chairman fumes as Chelsea’s Thiago Silva avoids a red card for a blatant handball…
@Bunds_: Horrendous decision. Big 6 bias
@DarkEmeraldAnn: Unbelievably poor decision. It was a clear red!
@Roilionpaps: If Ward/Guehi does that exact same thing they’re taking an early shower, you need to call out this big 6 bias
@liamb0117: Difficult not to feel that if Silva was wearing a Palace shirt he gets sent off. Feels like, for whatever reason whether it be the scrunity afterwards or having to deal with the powerful people behind the scenes, referees are reluctant to give a big decision against the Top 6
@tweetingnav: It’s ok Steve, it’s not the player who should have been sent off then had a hand in their goal….
@JamesCPFC11: And injuring our player
@DeePalace_: They’ll get away with it as usual no one holds them accountable it’s the same old nonsense
@StevJT: The way VAR is used in the Prem is an embarrassment. Our level officiating has been poor for a while, VAR merely exacerbates this.
@mandyswagsta: Corruption at its finest! We all know if that was the other way round and that was a palace player who done that he would have been off!
@RyWa28: Made worse by the fact he then went on to assist their equaliser..
@CareFreeXtra: What about Edouards clear foul on Kepa which would of seen him get sent off?
@AndyT_______: Ok so edouard can get his second yellow for taking out kepa then. If we are going this soft let’s take it back and it’s a foul on silva. Grow up
@hollaatmefelix: What an absolute farce. If that was Joel Ward it’s a red. These refs need to be held accountable.
@cpfceagle123: We can tweet about lots of disagreement about #var #EPL and officials but most important is an action toward corrupted #EPL officials. It seems club budge gets advantage. I think #EPL should employe European officials. What we have now it looks corruption #EPL
@RossScq: I’ve been a football season ticket holder for 53 years. I LOVE the game but am now seriously beginning to think there is corruption involving the big clubs and the officials. There is NO away that would not have been a red card if that had happened by a Palace player.CORRUPTION
— Firaz Motiwala (@FirazMotiwala) October 1, 2022
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