Arsenal's Disallowed Goal Against Chelsea: A Controversial Call
The Barclays Women's Super League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. A major talking point was the disallowed goal by Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius in the 54th minute. Referee Melissa Burgin ruled the goal out for handball, a decision that sparked immediate controversy and debate.
Blackstenius volleyed the ball into the roof of the net after Niamh Charles's clearing header from a corner. However, Burgin deemed that Blackstenius had used her arm to control the ball before striking it. Replays, however, suggested the ball may have struck her thigh or midriff, leading to widespread disagreement with the referee's decision.
Sky Sports co-commentator Courtney Sweetman-Kirk was among those who believed it was the wrong call. She suggested that the referee was caught out by the action of Blackstenius's arm going back as the ball came in, but that the ball didn't actually hit her arm. "It's a really, really poor decision by the look of it," Sweetman-Kirk stated.
The decision was further scrutinized considering the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols in place in the Premier League. VAR is used to correct clear and obvious errors in four match-changing situations: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. While factual decisions like offsides are not subject to the "clear and obvious error" test, subjective decisions have a higher bar for intervention. The on-field referee's decision stands unless the VAR believes it was a clear and obvious error based on the available evidence. In such cases, the VAR advises the referee to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
In this instance, it remains unclear whether VAR was consulted, and if so, why the on-field decision was not overturned given the ambiguity of the replays. This incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding VAR and its application in the Premier League. While designed to eliminate clear refereeing blunders, VAR's implementation has often been criticized for its inconsistency and the length of time it takes to reach decisions.
Arsenal manager was understandably frustrated with the decision. "I think we deserved to win and I think some of our goals that we scored were wrong decisions," said Russo. Pundits covering the game also felt Arsenal were hard done by. "They've been robbed today, Arsenal," said Izzy Christiansen. Rachel Corsie added, "The two other goals that they did manage to score that were disallowed probably on a different day would have been given".
Adding insult to injury, Arsenal had another goal disallowed later in the game for offside, further fueling their frustration. While Alessia Russo did manage to equalize late in the game, the Gunners felt they were denied a clear victory due to the refereeing decisions.
The disallowed goal against Chelsea is sure to be a talking point for days to come, raising questions about handball interpretations and the effectiveness of VAR in ensuring fair outcomes in football matches.
