Fans rage at VAR again as Chelsea star N’Golo Kante escapes without red card despite handball in drab Wolves draw
FANS were left in disbelief as N’Golo Kante managed to escape a red card for what seemed to be an obvious handball.
The incident came midway through the first half of Chelsea’s dire 0-0 draw against Wolves.
The Chelsea man failed to control the ball as it came to him as the last defender, with it striking him on the arm.
The touch appeared to prevent Daniel Podence a clear run at goal.
But Kante escaped punishment from referee David Coote because the ball struck his body before hitting his arm.
A Premier League spokesperson said: “It was looked at by the VAR, but the view is that it wasn’t a clear handball and if it touched his hand it comes off his chest first.
“So comfortable here that right decision for VAR not to get involved.”
Therefore under the laws of the game, VAR chief Kevin Friend deemed the incident not worthy of a red card.
That’s despite the ball coming off his arm and stopping Podence from running through at goal.
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Wolves in fact did not even win a free kick following the incident.
Fans on Twitter were quick to fume as to why Kante was not given his marching orders.
One in particular raged: “How’s VAR not sent Kante off for handball corrupt as f***.”
Another said: “Chelsea got away with that. That’s a handball and Kante should be off.”
Meanwhile another pointed out: “Are we just going to ignore the Kante handball? Podence was through [on goal].”
And it’s not the first contentious decision of the weekend either.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson was not penalised for wiping out Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser with the ball nowhere near him in their 4-0 win at St James’ Park.
Granit Xhaka too escaped punishment despite a studs-up challenge on Raphinha in Arsenal’s 4-1 win against Leeds on Saturday.
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