Jamie Redknapp calls for FA rule change after Chelsea striker Jackson's plea
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp wants the FA to alter a rule that hampered Chelsea.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp called for the FA to change their rules surrounding jostling in the penalty area next season, following an incident in Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest. Nicolas Jackson scored the winning goal eight minutes from full-time but the Senegalese striker also pleaded with the referee for a first-half spot-kick.
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Just before the end of the opening 45 minutes, with the two teams tied at 1-1 thanks to goals from Mykhaylo Mudryk and Willy Boly, Chelsea had a corner and an opportunity to take the lead.
Jackson was anticipating a delivery inside the six-yard box but continuously grappled with ex-Chelsea defender Ola Aina, who grabbed the forward with enough force for him to fall to the floor and appeal to the referee for a penalty.
However, match official Tony Harrington waved away their penalty protests and Michael Salisbury on VAR duty did not feel that there was enough reason to overturn the on-field decision.
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Redknapp fumed at the decision and believes that the current rules are not fit for purpose. With Arsenal’s Ben White in the headlines for his antics at set-pieces, the Sky Sports pundit called on the Premier League to reassess their rulebook and award more penalties for such infringements.
“I don’t know why he is getting involved with pushing and pulling him,” Redknapp said as he reviewed the incident between Aina and Jackson. “Just leave him alone and try and defend. As soon as you grab and pull him to the floor like that, you are risking of giving away a penalty.
“The rules at the moment are almost in the favour of the defenders. I think something has to change about that next year. We see it too often with players pulling people and blocking people. I am not a massive fan of it.”
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Rule 12 of the FA’s laws of the game state that a foul should be awarded if the defender impedes the attacker, clarifying as: “Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.”
But neither the referee nor VAR thought that Aina impeded Jackson per the official rules, but Redknapp rejected the idea that a penalty should not have been given and called for the regulations to be rewritten in accordance.
Chelsea were able to get a vital three points without a chance to score from 12 yards, however, as Jackson netted the winner from Reece James’ cross after Raheem Sterling cancelled out Callum Hudson-Odoi’s curling effort in the second half.