Joe Cole expresses his frustration with VAR following Axel Disasi’s late winning goal being disallowed for Chelsea.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – In a thrilling Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea FC, referee Craig Pawson found himself at the center of controversy as he denied Axel Disasi a late winner, much to the frustration of the Chelsea players. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Joe Cole expressing his belief that VAR is taking away the passion and magic moments in football.

Chelsea staged an impressive comeback after going 2-0 down, with goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher. Disasi’s header in stoppage time seemed to seal the victory for the Blues, but Pawson intervened after consulting the pitchside monitor. He penalized Benoit Badiashile for a foul on Diego Carlos in the build-up to the goal.

While Cole acknowledged that the decision was correct, he lamented the impact of VAR on the spontaneity of the game. He stated, “You’re taking away those moments and that passion.” Cole also referred to another recent incident in the FA Cup semi-final between Coventry and Manchester United, where a late Coventry goal was disallowed for offside.

Glenn Hoddle, another former player and pundit, agreed with the decision to rule out the goal but understood Mauricio Pochettino’s frustrations. Pochettino had expressed his disappointment after the match, as his team had also been on the receiving end of a VAR decision in the FA Cup semi-final. Hoddle emphasized the role of VAR in ensuring correct decisions, especially when the referee may have missed an incident during normal play.

Despite the draw, Pochettino’s Chelsea side remains in contention for European qualification, currently sitting in ninth place with games in hand over Manchester United, Newcastle United, and West Ham United. Aston Villa, on the other hand, maintains their fourth-place position, seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Champions League football. However, Spurs have three games in hand and could close the gap to four points with a victory in the upcoming north London derby against Arsenal.