Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, has raised concerns about the validity of Chemsdine Talbi’s added-time winning goal for Sunderland against Chelsea. Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, believes that Lutsharel Geertruida’s involvement in the late goal should have led to a penalty for impeding Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez due to being in an offside position.
The match at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea take an early lead courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho’s goal, but Sunderland fought back with Wilson Isidor equalizing from a long-throw-in. Despite Chelsea’s dominance in possession during the second half, it was Sunderland who clinched victory with Talbi’s dramatic late strike, which sparked controversy due to a potential offside infringement.
In the closing moments, Talbi found the back of the net to seal a 2-1 win for Sunderland, leaving Chelsea players and fans frustrated by Geertruida’s positioning and its impact on Sanchez’s sightline. As Talbi scored, Geertruida, who was on loan from RB Leipzig, was in an offside position that may have impeded Sanchez’s view of the play.
Hackett criticized the lack of intervention from VAR in this instance, highlighting the need to uphold the offside law regarding obstructing the opponent’s vision. He emphasized that Geertruida’s positioning influenced the outcome of the goal and suggested that referee Andy Madley should have reviewed the incident on the Pitchside Monitor to ensure the correct decision was made.
The controversy surrounding Talbi’s late winner has sparked discussions about the interpretation of offside rules and the role of VAR in such situations, adding an extra layer of scrutiny to Sunderland’s victory over Chelsea.
