Rio Ferdinand has slammed the referee’s decision to award Chelsea a crucial penalty in their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Blues were given the spot-kick in the 53rd minute of their Champions League last-16 second-leg clash, with the aggregate score tied at 1-1 at the time.
Kai Havertz stepped up to score the penalty – at the second time of asking after initially missing – but, afterwards, there were questions over the spot-kick decision.
The referee decided to award Graham Potter’s side the crucial spot-kick after Ben Chilwell’s cross struck the arm of Marius Wolf from close range.
Speaking on the referee’s decision, on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: ‘He obviously hasn’t played football.
‘You cant get your hands out of the way there. We understand there are laws in the game but some of them are made to look ridiculous.
‘They’re trying to take every element of positivity for a defender away. The rules give the attackers the full advantage’.
Ferdinand’s co-pundit and former Chelsea winger, Joe Cole, said: ‘They’re trying to make the rule black and white, but that’s a grey area.
‘A footballer will know, that when you’re that close in and you’re trying to block the shot… you’re arm is going to spin that way naturally. There’s nothing intentional in that’.
After being awarded the spot-kick, Kai Havertz stepped up and saw his effort hit the post before the referee ruled for it to be retaken following an encroaching Dortmund defender.
This again caused controversy amongst the BT Sport pundits, as Ferdinand said: ‘Itโs a terrible rule. What’s he supposed to do?
‘What was so wrong before? I understand that is the rule, but I donโt agree that it is a good law. Itโs a bad rule.’
Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals by overturning the one-goal deficit from the first-leg thanks to Havertz and Raheem Sterling.
Former Man City winger Sterling scored a terrific effort into the roof of the net towards the end of the first-half to draw them level before the German’s spot-kick