
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper expressed strong criticism of referee Andrew Madley’s performance following his team’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea. Cooper was particularly aggrieved by a late penalty appeal that was denied, as well as a controversial VAR decision that eventually awarded Leicester a penalty in injury time.
Cooper argued that Leicester should have been awarded a penalty when Levi Colwill appeared to foul Stephy Mavididi in the penalty area. However, Madley did not award the penalty, a decision that Cooper felt was a clear error.
Leicester were later awarded a penalty after VAR intervened when Romeo Lavia fouled Bobby de Cordova-Reid. Madley initially ruled out the penalty, believing Lavia was offside, but VAR overturned the decision, confirming that Lavia was onside.
Cooper expressed his frustration with Madley’s performance, stating that the referee had made several incorrect decisions and questioned his concentration and composure. He also highlighted Leicester’s previous negative experiences with Madley as the official in their matches.
“We’ve had a lot of bad luck with this referee this year,” Cooper lamented. “It’s our third or fourth game with him and it’s not been the best of times. It continued today.”
Cooper’s criticism comes despite the Premier League’s recent claims of improved on-field accuracy and reduced VAR errors this season. A Key Match Incident Panel reported a significant decrease in VAR errors and a reduction in the average VAR delay time.
Despite these claims, Cooper’s frustration highlights the ongoing debate surrounding refereeing decisions and the impact of VAR in football. The incident underscores the need for continued improvement in officiating and the use of technology to ensure fair and accurate outcomes in matches.
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