Rio Ferdinand recently expressed his frustration with VAR during the Chelsea vs. Arsenal match. In the game, Nicolas Jackson appeared to make a reckless challenge on home defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, but the incident went unpunished by the referee and VAR. This decision drew strong criticism, with Ferdinand and Chelsea both questioning the lack of intervention. Following the match, Chelsea voiced their discontent on social media, citing multiple poor decisions, including the incident involving Jackson.
Notably, the club has requested the release of the audio from the decision-making process. Ferdinand echoed the sentiment, expressing a desire to understand why the referee was not summoned to the pitch-side monitor. Jackson’s disciplinary issues and performance have been under scrutiny, with his booking history and missed opportunities raising concerns. Despite this, Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s manager, has stood by Jackson, attributing some of his struggles to physical fatigue from injuries and international commitments.
Overall, the match and the handling of the tackle by Nicolas Jackson have sparked debate and criticism from pundits, the club, and fans alike. The aftermath of the game has seen calls for transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.