Chelsea fans were left fuming after Ipswich Town were awarded a penalty early on in their Premier League clash.
Blues goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was adjudged to have fouled Liam Delap inside the area and referee John Brooks pointed to the spot.
Replays showed that there was very little contact made by Jorgensen but after a VAR check, the decision stood.
Delap took the penalty and scored to make it 1-0 to Ipswich at Portman Road, with Chelsea fans seething on social media.
“How on earth is that a penalty? That is a huge dive from Delap,” said one on X.
A second added: “There’s actually zero contact. I don’t get it.”
“That’s never ever a penalty,” said a third.
A fourth added: “How did the VAR confirm that as a penalty when there is no contact at all? Laughable.”
Shortly after, the Premier League’s Match Centre explained why the penalty was allowed to stand.
“The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Jörgensen on Delap was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty,” the statement read.
Chelsea thought they equalised midway through the first half but Joao Felix’s goal was disallowed for offside after a lengthy check.
Ipswich held onto their 1-0 lead as they went into half-time.
REFEREES ARE RUINING FOOTBALL. HOW IS THIS A PENALTY???? pic.twitter.com/BFEsmWlOxY
— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) December 30, 2024