Thiago Silva Takes a Swipe at Referee Anthony Taylor Over Mateo Kovacic’s Handball Incident

Former Chelsea captain Thiago Silva has taken a subtle jab at referee Anthony Taylor after he chose not to award a penalty for a handball incident involving Mateo Kovacic during Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City.

Taylor was the referee in charge of the match at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat to the visitors. The Blues could have had a chance to get back into the game when the ball struck Kovacic’s arm inside City’s box, but Taylor opted not to point to the spot.

Silva, who spent four years at Chelsea, was among those who were left puzzled by Taylor’s decision. The Brazilian defender took to social media to express his disbelief, commenting “Anthonyyyyyyyyyyyyyy” on an Instagram post of the incident.

However, Taylor’s decision was in line with the Premier League’s new stance on the handball law. Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Premier League announced that they would relax their stance on the handball law, stating that players would no longer have to keep their arms down by their sides or behind their backs.

Instead, the decision would be based on the movement of the player’s body. Premier League refereeing boss Howard Webb explained that the guidance to officials this season is “less is more,” and that fans would see fewer harsh handball penalties.

The Premier League’s Match Centre account on X also provided an explanation for the decision, stating that Kovacic’s handball was not given because the ball came from close proximity.

Despite the explanation, Silva’s comment on social media hinted at his disagreement with Taylor’s decision. The incident has sparked a debate among fans, with some arguing that Kovacic’s handball was intentional, while others believe that Taylor made the right call.

The incident has added to the ongoing discussion around the handball law, with many calling for consistency in refereeing decisions.