Ethan Ampadu’s tackle on Joey Pelupessy is why VAR was introduced. Well done, VAR. Referee Andre Marriner awards a penalty, despite it being a perfectly good challenge by defender Ethan Ampadu on Joey Pelupessy.
Marriner, from his angle, thinks Pelupessy plays the ball first and so he points to the spot.
However, as we can see from the television replays, it was in fact a good tackle by Ampadu and therefore not a foul.
This is why VAR is introduced – to prevent these incorrect calls. As for why a drop ball was awarded rather than a corner, the ball was still in play when Marriner blew his whistle to award a penalty.
That means the restart has to be a drop ball. It seems strange, but those are the rules.
Marriner then awards Chelsea a penalty at the other end and VAR was not needed to overturn this one.
Sam Hutchinson clearly stamps on Cesar Azpilicueta’s foot so a spot-kick was correct.