‘I’m in shock’ – Jermaine Jenas, Rio Ferdinand unsure how Chelsea were denied a penalty against West Ham

Jermaine Jenas and Rio Ferdinand believed Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty after a handball by Tomas Soucek in their draw with West Ham in the Premier League.

Chelsea took the lead in the first half through Joao Felix in the 16th minute, but former Chelsea defender Emerson equalised for the visitors just 12 minutes later.

After a swift VAR review, the decision was made to play on. The decision was the wrong one according to Jermaine Jenas on BT Sport commentary.

“I’m in shock, I can’t believe that’s not been given,” he said.

“You can land on the ground without using your arms if you need to. He knows what he’s doing there. He even has a little bit of a look.

“Soucek as he is going down… that’s a handball. It’s a shot on target, it’s going towards goal. It’s the wrong decision in my opinion.”

BT Sport’s Rio Ferdinand said after the match it was a “great save” by Soucek.

“I was happy the referee and the VAR didn’t see it but I thought he more or less saved it,” he said.

“It’s a great save. [Conor] Gallagher hits one with his left foot on the edge of the box. He gets down really well to his left. What a save that is! It’s unbelievable. He’s lucky.

“It’s a definite stonewall penalty, I don’t understand how you can’t give that. You watch that afterwards and the human eye tells you that’s a penalty. The distance between the person taking the shot and Soucek is one of the key elements.”

Joe Cole added: “The crucial thing for me was the distance Soucek was from Gallagher. If he’s right next to him and he’s two yards from the ball with his arm then you can argue ‘no penalty’.

“But when you’re that far away in a split second, he knows what he’s doing. It’s a penalty.”

Gianfranco Zola was in agreement. He said: “There is a shot to goal that is being blocked. It is in my opinion clearly a penalty.”

Former Premier League referee Peter Walton said he was disappointed that referee Craig Pawson did not go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.

He said: “The law is quite clear. The law says about unnaturally bigger, making that area of the ball to strike. The VAR thinks the arm is in a natural position to break his fall.

“But when you look at it closely to analyse it almost in slow motion the ball is past his knee and then he decides the arm is there.

“For me it’s a deliberate act and I’m disappointed actually that VAR didn’t give the opportunity for the referee to have a second look at it.”

Chelsea are now winless in their last three matches after three consecutive draws.