Jude Bellingham, Emre Can fume at Chelsea retaken penalty decision against Borussia Dortmund in Champions League
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Updated 08/03/2023 at 09:20 GMT
Jude Bellingham and Emre Can were not impressed with the decision to allow Kai Havertz to retake a missed penalty that helped Chelsea beat Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League. Havertz missed his initial spot-kick but it was taken again due to encroachment by a Dortmund player. Bellingham said it was a "joke" while Can also expressed his frustration.
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Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham said the decision to allow Chelsea to retake a missed penalty which ended up sending them to the Champions League quarter-finals was a “joke”.
Chelsea were awarded the penalty when the ball struck the arm of Dortmund’s Marius Wolf with the aggregate score level at 1-1.
Kai Havertz stepped up to take the penalty and hit the post as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.
But the referee ordered the penalty to be taken again after the VAR spotted that the Dortmund player who cleared the ball after it had rebounded off the post was encroaching in the box.
Several Chelsea players had gone too early but that made no difference to the decision.
Havertz dispatched the penalty at the second attempt and Chelsea advanced into the last eight with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Bellingham was unhappy with the awarding of the penalty for handball, but more so with the decision to allow it to be retaken.
“From where I was it looked like he was pretty close and I’m not sure what more he can do with the hands,” he told BT Sport.
“It’s a yard or two away, but I don’t want to get in trouble.
“That in itself was disappointing and the fact they have had a retake is a joke. For every penalty, especially when he has such a slow run-up, there is going to be people encroaching into the box by a yard or so, but that’s the game I suppose. He made the decision and we have to live with it.”
Dortmund midfielder Emre Can said he didn't understand the decision and the referee was "very bad".
"We didn't deserve to lose, but we lost because of the referee," he told Amazon Prime.
"Giving back the penalty to be retaken like that, how is it possible? I don't understand. The referee has been very bad today. The way he spoke to us was arrogant."
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said he was not a fan of the retake either.
“It’s a bad rule,” he said on BT Sport.
“I think if all of you are in the box it should be null and void and the penalty should stand. What was so wrong before when the rules were before? Almost every player was in there. I understand it’s the rule and by the letter of the law he’s got it right, but that doesn’t mean we have to agree it’s a good law.”
Dortmund manager Edin Terzic did not offer much complaint about the decision.
"I'm responsible for the performance of our team. I don't want to talk about the referee. I thought it was a tight call and a harsh decision but this is how it goes.”
The win could prove a big one for Chelsea as they look to keep their season going.
Their poor Premier League form has almost certainly cost them a top-four place, but back-to-back wins this week have boosted under-pressure manager Graham Potter.
“The boys were fantastic, certainly first half played really well, created some good opportunities,” Potter told BT Sport.
“Delighted for them that they could get the win and great for everybody here. There was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room, everyone’s delighted. We have been through a tough period.
“This competition means a lot to us and we wanted to progress to the last eight, which we have done. Now it sets us up for a good few weeks.
“It’s great for the boys, two wins and two clean sheets. After a tough period, you get those sometimes in life, it is what it is, but it’s how you respond and the players have been fantastic.”
Chelsea play Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday.
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