Controversial decision. Referee spares Reece James after last-man foul
Ambiguous call by the official
Football news
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Chelsea and Newcastle shared the spoils in their Premier League Matchday 17 clash. The contest ended 2-2, but the Magpies came agonizingly close to snatching all three points.
In the dying seconds of stoppage time, Harvey Barnes broke through for a one-on-one with Robert Sánchez, only to be brought down by Reece James. Replays clearly show the Chelsea defender grabbing the Newcastle winger’s arm, sending him tumbling to the turf.
The referee judged that there was either no foul or that the infringement was not severe enough to warrant a red card for the Chelsea man. After 17 rounds, the Blues remain in fourth place, but they now risk falling further behind their rivals.
