Hackett backs VAR as Chelsea’s handball fury falls flat in frantic 2-2

Well then, that was a proper Premier League potboiler. Chelsea blew a 2-0 cushion, Leeds clawed back to 2-2, and everyone left arguing about a handball in the build-up to the leveller. But former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett has poured a big bucket of cold water on the Blues’ protests — and he’s absolutely right to.

The flashpoint

Chelsea had the game by the scruff after racing into a two-goal lead, only to wobble when Moisés Caicedo conceded a penalty. The equaliser followed in a defensive muddle, with the ball ricocheting off Jayden Bogle’s body before making contact with his arm in the scramble that preceded the finish.

VAR checked it. The Premier League’s Match Centre later explained the on-field decision stood because there was no handball offence in the attacking phase — the contact came via a deflection from the player’s own body.

Hackett’s verdict: law, not vibes

Hackett’s take is crystal clear: the ball hit the player’s thigh first, then brushed the arm — that’s accidental handball, not an offence, so the goal rightly stands. That aligns with the current handball law: a deflection from a player’s own body onto the arm is generally not penalised unless it’s deliberate or directly creates a goal by the scorer’s hand/arm.

In short, this wasn’t one for the scrapbook of officiating howlers. It was a messy goal, yes, but not an illegal one.

Rosenior’s frustration — and the rulebook reality

Liam Rosenior bristled at the idea that “not deliberate” was the key factor, arguing that any handball in the attacking phase should kill the goal. You get the frustration in the heat of battle, but that’s not quite how the law is written these days. The automatic wipeout applies when the scorer’s own hand/arm is involved in creating the goal. A ricochet from thigh to arm by another attacker in the build-up? VAR isn’t obliged to rule that out.

Blues only have themselves to blame

Chelsea will still feel sore, and you can understand it after letting control slip. But the bigger story is the game management: 2-0 up, then giving away a soft penalty, then switching off for the equaliser. There was even a golden chance late on — Cole Palmer, usually ice-cold, lashed over from close range after Caicedo fizzed one across. That’s the moment that should keep them up at night, not the handball that wasn’t.

What’s next

Both sides now pivot to the cup schedule, needing cooler heads and sharper finishing. If you’re weighing up form and momentum ahead of the next fixtures, our guide to the best betting sites is a handy companion for reading the odds and spotting value.

Bottom line: the officials followed the law, Hackett has backed them, and Chelsea’s gripe won’t change the table. Nail your chances at 2-0 and no one’s talking about elbows and slow-mo replays.