Chelsea
Webb accepts VAR error after Fulham goal is wrongly ruled out in Chelsea defeat
Howard Webb admits VAR guidance was not followed after Michael Salisbury stood down by PGMOL. on Sat.
Howard Webb has acknowledged a clear error after a Fulham goal was disallowed during Saturday’s 2–0 defeat to Chelsea. The outcome stood and Chelsea went on to win, but the decision sparked immediate criticism and prompted action from PGMOL.
PGMOL removed the VAR official Michael Salisbury from the same role for Sunday’s Liverpool v Arsenal fixture. Webb addressed the incident on Match Officials Mic’d Up and said the VAR protocol in place was not applied correctly.
“It wasn’t controversial, it was wrong,” he said.
Webb reiterated the principles that guide VAR use in the Premier League and how officials are instructed to operate at a high threshold for intervention. He emphasised that on-field decisions should normally stand unless the evidence is very clear.
“We’ve established some principles in terms of how we officiate in the Premier League and how we use VAR. They sit around a high threshold for penalising contact, aiding the flow, rhythm and tempo of the game. We’ve also established a high bar for intervention with VAR.
“In other words, if situations are not clearly wrong and the referee has made a call on the field, that call will stand or at least should stand. That’s the message we give to all of our VARs, particularly when we come to taking away goals that are obviously a crucial moment in the game.
“We should only be taking goals away when the evidence is very clear that’s the only thing we can do and that’s the guidance we give to our officials.
“In this situation, that guidance wasn’t followed properly. There was a misjudgement by the officials involved in this situation about how that contact happened between Muniz and Chalobah. The officials got super-focused on that contact, without looking at the full context of how it happened.
“It happens when Muniz is in possession of the ball, controls the ball, turns naturally and brings his foot down on to Chalobah, who’s moved his foot into a space which the Fulham player has the right to put his foot into in that normal way.”
The disallowed Fulham effort and Webb’s admission generated anger in the public debate. Premier League figure Alan Shearer expressed his frustration on The Rest Is Football, exclaiming: “What the f— are they thinking?”
Chelsea
Santos turned down €70m Al Qadsiah offer to protect World Cup hopes
Andrey Santos rejected a €70m Al Qadsiah bid to prioritise his World Cup ambitions at Chelsea. This.
Andrey Santos has confirmed he rejected a significant summer approach from Saudi side Al Qadsiah after Chelsea opened talks over a €70 million offer. UOL revealed earlier this week that the bid, worth €70 million (£60.7 million, $82 million), prompted Chelsea to consider an exit for the midfielder.
Santos said he declined despite the opportunity to earn more than five times his current salary in the Middle East. “The offer did arrive, but I immediately declined because of my dream and main goal, which is the World Cup,” Santos told Trivela . “I know that being at Chelsea and in the Premier League gives me better chances than in Saudi Arabia. That was the main factor in my response to them.”
The 2025/26 season context has left Santos focused on forcing his way into Brazil’s squad for next season’s World Cup. He is aiming to move up Chelsea’s midfield pecking order under boss Enzo Maresca, who also has Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo among his options.
Santos has featured as a substitute in each of Chelsea’s three Premier League games to date, usually deployed slightly higher than the defensive role in which he impressed while at Strasbourg. He has been clear about where he prefers to operate on the pitch. “I really enjoy playing as a defensive midfielder,” Santos continued. “I even think it’s my main position, because I grew up as a defensive midfielder. When I moved up to Vasco, it was as a defensive midfielder. At Chelsea, I play a bit further forward, but I feel comfortable playing in both positions.”
Bayern Munich had also been linked as a suitor during the window, but Santos’s public stance is that remaining at Chelsea and competing in the Premier League offers the best pathway to his World Cup objective.
Bayern Munich
Hoeneß: Jackson’s Bayern Loan Will Only Become Permanent If He Starts 40 Matches
Hoeneß says Jackson must start 40 matches this season for Bayern to trigger a permanent deal. clause
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß has outlined a strict condition on Nicolas Jackson’s loan from Chelsea: the deal will only become permanent if Jackson starts 40 games across all competitions this season.
Hoeneß also addressed the headline fee attached to the single-season loan, which had been reported as a record €16.5 million (£14.3 million, $19.3 million). He said part of that sum was covered by Jackson and his agents. “Firstly, it wasn’t €16.5 million, the player and his agents paid €3 million,” Hoeneß said during an appearance on Doppelpass. “The player cost €13.5 million.”
Hoeneß defended the pricing in context. “If a player costs €80 million across a five-year contract, it costs around €16 million every year, so it’s a good transfer.” When the prospect of the purchase clause being triggered was raised, Hoeneß laughed: “He must play 40 games as a starter. He’ll never do that.”
The club’s fixture load and squad pecking order explain Hoeneß’s confidence. Bayern played 56 matches across all competitions last season, including five games at the Club World Cup. They exited the Champions League in the quarter-final and the DFB Pokal in the last 16.
On the field, Harry Kane remains Bayern’s undisputed starting striker when fit. The left wing is filled by Luis Díaz following his £65.5 million switch from Liverpool, while Michael Olise is a near-permanent starter on the right. Those factors, Hoeneß suggested, leave Jackson facing a clear battle for opportunities as a starter this season.
The condition set by Hoeneß ties Jackson’s future to consistent starts rather than isolated appearances, and it places the onus on the player to displace established options if Bayern are to trigger the purchase clause.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer: Instagram update suggests return after groin injury
Cole Palmer posts ‘soon back’ on Instagram as Chelsea await his return from a groin injury. bringing
Chelsea have been without Cole Palmer in recent matches after a groin problem limited his early-season involvement. The attacking midfielder started the opening weekend draw at home to Crystal Palace but then picked up the issue before the trip to West Ham United and missed that 5–1 victory.
Palmer was also absent for Chelsea’s 2–0 win over Fulham just before the September international break and was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad as he continues his recovery. The timing is unwelcome for Enzo Maresca, who relies on Palmer’s creativity.
On the subject of his availability, Maresca said: “Cole we need to see day by day,” and added: “I spoke with [England manager] Thomas [Tuchel] a few times, but in the end it’s Thomas’ decision and he decided that [to leave Palmer out of the squad].” He made clear Palmer’s importance to the team, saying: “For sure, 100 per cent, we are a much better team with Cole, no doubt. But when Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions.”
There is a more positive note from Palmer himself. The Chelsea No.10 posted a series of photos on Instagram with the caption, “soon back”, suggesting a recovery that could allow him to rejoin squad duties after the September international period.
For now, Chelsea must continue to adapt without one of their key attacking options while monitoring Palmer’s day-to-day progress. The Instagram post offers encouragement to staff and supporters who hope the player’s absence will be short lived and that he can return to influence matches in the near future.
