Joao Felix: Premier League Explains Why Chelsea’s Goal Against Ipswich Was Disallowed

• Chelsea were denied a goal against Ipswich Town after a VAR review following Joao Felix's strike
• The decision proved costly as Ipswich scored in the second half to double their lead after Liam Delap's opener
• The Premier League has explained why Felix's goal was disallowed in a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter)

Joao Felix's apparent equaliser for Chelsea in their final game of the year sparked controversy after being ruled out by VAR at Portman Road Stadium.

The dramatic sequence left the Blues frustrated as they sought to recover from Liam Delap's opener for Ipswich.

How the incident unfolded

Felix's strike seemed to have restored parity for Chelsea, with celebrations erupting on the pitch and among fans.

However, those celebrations were short-lived.

A review by the Video Assistant Referee determined that the Portuguese forward was in an offside position, which resulted in the goal being overturned.

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Why Chelsea's goal was cancelled

The Premier League later clarified the decision to address confusion surrounding the incident.

According to the league’s statement via social media, the goal was initially awarded by the on-field referee.

VAR then reviewed the play, identified an offside infraction, and recommended the reversal.

Explaining the offside rule

According to IFAB, a player is deemed offside if any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opponent’s half (excluding the halfway line) and closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.

While Law 11 of football remains a subject of debate, the rule book clearly explains the fine margins that define an offside position.

How Chelsea fans reacted to VAR's call

Supporters of the West London side were left fuming, with many questioning the consistency and efficiency of the technology.

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@RayGavin1 expressed frustration:

"If VAR has to examine a case for such a long time, surely there is no clear and obvious error?? No??"

A bewildered @jtrzzzzz asked:

"How does it take that long for a clear offside, but they can review the penalty in 2 seconds? What am I missing 😂😂"

@theblu3beard criticised the system:

"Trust VAR to pick and choose which angle results in a Chelsea offside."

@Ziyechman lamented:

"They're ruining the beautiful game."

Meanwhile, @priscusfani outright rejected the decision:

"Hell no 😭😭😭 that is not even offside."

VAR decision from a tactical perspective

From a technical standpoint, Felix’s movement off the ball highlighted his sharp instincts to exploit spaces.

However, his positioning just beyond the last defender underscored the fine margins that VAR scrutinises.

This incident adds to ongoing debates about the impact of VAR on football.

While the system aims to ensure fairness, its implementation often leaves fans questioning its consistency and transparency.

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Why Chelsea are not title contenders?

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry shared his reservations about Chelsea’s prospects of winning the Premier League title.

Despite the Blues’ impressive season so far, the football icon explained why they fall short of being considered genuine contenders, echoing the sentiments of many fans and analysts.

Source: YEN.com.gh