'Where was VAR?’ - Enzo Maresca right to fume as Joao Pedro controversy re-analysed and ex-refs chief calls out Howard Webb
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Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Main Event
Harri Burton
Mon 22 September 2025 19:00, UK
Enzo Maresca had every right to question Peter Bankes and VAR after Chelsea were not awarded a blatant penalty against Man United.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the referee should have spotted Noussair Mazraoui‘s illegal challenge on Joao Pedro.
Maresca has already been told to fine Robert Sanchez after the goalkeeper was sent off during the clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, 20 September, which put the Blues at an immediate disadvantage.
Bruno Fernandes scored his 100th goal for Man United, with Casemiro doubling the Red Devils’ lead before being sent off, but the Chelsea boss was certain that events should have been much different.
In the 35th minute, Pedro was brought down in the penalty area by Mazraoui, hitting the ground in frustration as his calls for a spot-kick were waved away.
Cole Palmer had already been subbed off, so he likely would have taken responsibility, but not even VAR got involved as the Blues went on to concede a second goal just two minutes later.
Maresca’s side did eventually halve the deficit, with Trevoh Chalobah heading home in the final 10 minutes, but it was too little too late from the 10 men of Chelsea to secure a point on the road.
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Nobody will know what might have happened should Pedro have been awarded a penalty, but after the 2-1 defeat, the West London club are sitting sixth in the Premier League table on eight points.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “As a defender, when you stick a leg out, you’re at risk.
Chelsea’s manager is right to express concern over not being awarded a penalty kick.
“That dangling leg is going to attract contact.
Contact has been made, even though it’s slight, it’s sufficient enough to bring the player down.
“Chelsea are unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty kick, and I question where VAR was.
VAR should have intervened.
“If the referee is in a good position, he should have seen that in the first place.
If he’s not awarding the penalty, and there are people looking at the screen at Stockley Park, I’m seeing that as a clear and obvious error.
“I hear what Howard Webb has to say about a ‘high bar’. What does that mean?
If it’s a foul, there should be no ‘bar’. It’s an error from the referee, so VAR should have every confidence to intervene.”