The clash between Arsenal and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was marked by an early moment of controversy involving Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
As Raya attempted a quick goal kick to launch a counterattack, Colwill stepped in front and appeared to intentionally block Raya, causing him to trip. Surprisingly, the referee opted not to issue a yellow card, a decision that left commentators like Gary Neville and fans questioning the consistency of officiating.
Gary Neville, who was providing live commentary, expressed his disbelief, pointing out that Colwill’s action was clearly an attempt to delay the restart.
When former referee Mike Dean, now part of the commentary team, explained the decision, he stated that in his experience, the first infraction was often just a warning rather than a booking. He added, “I know it sounds daft when you say free but the first one always a good talking to for the player who committed the offence and the second time you would have to penalise.”