Anthony Taylor explains five reasons for his errors during the #Manchester City Vs Chelsea game and apologizes to the Chelsea supporters, saying “It was not my decision.”

Chelsea’s frustration peaked on August 18 when a seemingly clear penalty decision went against them, leaving both the team and its fans outraged.

This incident occurred during Chelsea’s opening match of the 2024–2025 Premier League season at Stamford Bridge, where they faced the reigning champions, Manchester City. Early in the match, City took the lead in the 18th minute, with Erling Haaland scoring his first goal of the season, latching onto a long ball past Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez. Despite this early setback, Chelsea began to build momentum, with manager Enzo Maresca eager to make a strong impression in his debut competitive match.

One of the most controversial moments came in the second half, when Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic appeared to handle the ball following a pass from Malo Gusto. Both Chelsea players and supporters protested vigorously, but referee Anthony Taylor did not award the penalty. The decision to deny the spot-kick prompted an investigation into football regulations, specifically IFAB Law 12. According to the rule, a handball occurs if a player’s body becomes “unnaturally larger” due to the position of their hand or arm. However, Taylor likely considered Gusto’s close proximity to Kovacic when deciding not to penalize the former Chelsea midfielder.

Adding to Chelsea’s misery, Kovacic scored Manchester City’s second goal shortly after, further cementing City’s strong start to their title defense.