Wilfred Ndidi was not shown a red card for a wild lunge on Chelsea star man Cole Palmer because the foul “lacked intensity” according to VAR.
The England ace was left writhing in agony after a shocking challenge by the Leicester City midfielder in the first half of the encounter between the two teams at the King Power Stadium. Ndidi landed his studs on the back of Palmer’s right ankle in a challenge that many fans expected to lead to his dismissal, but he only received a yellow card.
Chelsea legend Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports at half-time with Chelsea 1-0 ahead thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal, said he felt Ndidi had deliberately targeted the Blues attacker and decided to “do him” with an “old fashioned” reducer in the 22nd minute of the clash.
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He said: “Watch where the ball is and then watch where Ndidi’s right foot is. The ball is there, bang, I’m gonna do ya, and then he has tried to swipe the ball with his left foot. This is a game where they were miles off it Leicester and at the height of their frustration – he lost his rag and he should be sent off.
“He nearly scores the equaliser, if he plays a part in getting Leicester back into this game I would imagine [Chelsea manager] Enzo Maresca will be furious.” However, referee Andrew Madley and official Paul Tierney on VAR clearly felt otherwise.
(Image: X)
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TNT Sports host Lynsey Hipgrave then relayed a statement from the Premier League Match Centre, which stated the card had not been upgraded to a red because of the short distance between Ndidi and Palmer when he lunged in and because it was adjudged the challenge “lacked intensity”. Cole scoffed at the explanation in the studio as he shook his head.
Chelsea fans were left furious by the decision, with one ranting on X: “2 red card incidents on Palmer this season now that are yellows. Premier League not protecting their best asset. Don’t deny the next generation of kids the Cole Palmer celebration. Do the right thing now @FA_PGMOL.”
(Image: Catherine Ivill)
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A second wrote: “Only VAR clowns could look at this challenge on Cole Palmer and not see a stone-cold red for Ndidi. Unbelievable.” A third said: “Including the Martinez tackle, that’s now two red card challenges on Cole Palmer that haven’t been given.”
And the explanation enraged them even further, with one Chelsea fan commenting: “‘Lacked intensity’ VAR is a disgrace, that could’ve ended Palmer’s season AND Ndidi had a chance to score the equaliser.” Another supporter added: “does “lacks intensity” mean “he ALMOST snapped palmer’s achilles but he didn’t so it’s ok”
It is the second time this season Palmer has been left feeling the full force of a challenge that has not resulted in a red card, with the Chelsea star also suffering from a nasty tackle by Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez prior to the November international break.