The Premier League have explained the decision to award Aston Villa an equalising goal against Chelsea, despite it initially being ruled out for offside.
The Blues were looking to end their poor recent away form when they took on Villa at Villa Park on Saturday evening. And it took just nine minutes for them to take the lead when Enzo Fernandez turned Pedro Neto’s cross into the net.
It was a lead that Chelsea took into half time. But they found themselves level just before the hour mark.
Half-time substitute Marcus Rashford got on the end of a ball into the box, and was able to knock the ball back into the middle for fellow January signing Marco Asensio to turn into the net. Celebrations were initially cut short by the offside flag.
However, after a VAR check, the goal was awarded. The Premier League Match Centre official account has now taken to X (formerly Twitter) to give an explanation on the decision.
“VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for Aston Villa – and established that Rashford was in an onside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was awarded,” it read.
The equalising goal means that Chelsea will be in fifth place in the Premier League table should they not find a winner before full-time. The point will move them onto 44 points, the same number as rivals Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s men will have a game in hand.
Following the game against Villa, Chelsea are back in action on Tuesday night. They take on bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Stamford Bridge (8.05pm kick-off) with every team in mid-week action.
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