CHELSEA legend Peter Cech wants a SECOND goal line to give keepers a chance after VAR ordered another spot-kick retake for encroachment.
West Ham stopper Lukasz Fabianski saved Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich’s first penalty on Friday night only to be adjudged to have moved off his line before the ball was struck.
West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski was ruled to have moved off his line too soon by VAR
Fabianski saved Mateusz Klich’s first penalty but couldn’t stop the secondCredit: Getty – Pool
Chelsea legend Petr Cech had his say on what should be done to give keepers a fair chanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The decision looked extremely marginal and Polish ace Klich took full advantage of his second chance to dispatch the ball past his countryman.
Retired former Blues No1 Cech – who was a shock inclusion as an emergency stand-in in Frank Lampard’s Premier League squad – had his say on the debate and offered his own solution.
Alongside a photo of Fabianski’s feet over the line on Instagram, Cech wrote: “How is any goalkeeper supposed to cover an area of 7m 32cm by 2m 44cm without any foot movement while a player shoots from 12 yards with an average speed of 70 mph, which takes the ball 0.35 seconds to cross the goal line is beyond my understanding…
“It’s easy to criticise without giving any solutions so here it is.
“CAN THE REFEREE JUST MAKE A SECOND LINE 4 FEET FROM THE GOAL LINE USING THE SPRAY AND THE PENALTY HAS TO BE SAVED IN BETWEEN? 🤷🏽♂️”
Klich’s effort put Leeds ahead after Patrick Bamford was fouled by Fabianski but VAR’s controversial intervention had no impact on the final result.
The Hammers fought back from going a goal down after six minutes to win 2-1 at Elland Road.
However, boss David Moyes was not completely satisfied and urged for a clarification of the rules.
Caballero and Cech are the oldest players in the Premier League
He said: “You might as well let the referees talk about it. We played really well tonight but until we get the rules sorted out I don’t think I’m gonna be too happy, but it doesn’t matter what I say.
“Maybe there will be more influential managers that can make a difference with what they say.
“It is probably better for you to discuss it because we are not discussing the football anymore, you’re discussing VAR decision all the time so you are better asking me about the football so that I can answer those the best I can.”
Fans on social media were similarly raging at the call – with many even pointing out that Bamford was clearly inside the box before the ball was struck for the second penalty.
One said: “Fabianski gets punished for being 1mm off his line. But Bamford is allowed meters in the box for the 2nd pen VAR OUT!
Another added: “If Fabianski is punished for coming off his line by an inch why isn’t this encroachment into the box pulled back? There’s no consistency. Destroying the game.”
A third fumed: “Fabianski has his heel on the line retake, Bamford on the pen spot when the retake is taken not even checked, no one can tell me VAR/ the muppets using it our doing there job.”
Chelsea’s technical exec Cech has released a Christmas single in aid of chairty in which he stars on the drums and Wycome boss Gareth Ainsworth lends his vocals.
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge
Petr Cech’s Christmas single for charity with Chelsea legend on drums
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
