However, reports claiming that the EFL (English Football League) has issued a statement acknowledging widespread errors in major decisions and suggesting the match should be replayed due to failed officiating appear to be unfounded or exaggerated, likely stemming from fan-driven social media posts, viral clips, or sensationalized content.
The match took place on February 3, 2026, at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal (90+6 or 90+7 minute) by rounding Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez after a counter-attack, securing Arsenal’s progression to the Carabao Cup final (their first major final in several years, set for March 22, 2026, at Wembley). Arsenal advanced comfortably on aggregate after a 3-2 first-leg win at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2026.
Controversies during the game centered primarily on penalty appeals:
- Chelsea fans and some analysts highlighted incidents where they believed clear penalties were denied, including shirt pulling, pushes, or fouls in the box that went unpunished with “play on” calls. YouTube videos and social media posts described these as “VAR robbery” or “Chelsea robbed,” with titles like “VAR ADMITS PENALTY ERROR AS CHELSEA ROBBED IN 1–0 DEFEAT” circulating widely. Some claimed VAR acknowledged an error post-match but the on-field referee did not overturn it.
- Arsenal also had penalty shouts waved away, notably one involving Gabriel Martinelli being brought down by Trevoh Chalobah’s trailing leg in the box late in the game. Pundits like Gary Neville noted Chalobah “took a risk,” but VAR (and referee Peter Bankes) did not intervene. Another first-half incident involved a potential handball by Wesley Fofana, which was checked but not awarded.
- Ex-PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) figures commented on some calls as “terrific” or consistent despite debate, while others criticized inconsistencies.
No official EFL statement supports the dramatic claims of “too many major decisions went wrong” to the extent that the semi-final “should be replayed to ensure a fairer outcome.” Searches across reliable sources—including the official EFL website, Arsenal and Chelsea club sites, BBC, Sky Sports, ESPN, The Guardian, and The Athletic—yield no such announcement from the EFL. Post-match coverage from the EFL focused on highlights, stat packs (e.g., Arsenal reaching their 9th League Cup final), and neutral recaps, without admitting systemic failure or proposing replays.
In English football, replaying a completed tie due to refereeing errors is extremely rare and typically reserved for exceptional circumstances (e.g., field invasions, mistaken identity, or proven corruption), not subjective VAR/penalty disputes. The PGMOL occasionally releases apologies or clarifications for clear errors (as seen in some viral claims), but no evidence points to that here triggering a replay call from the EFL. The governing body for the Carabao Cup (EFL) has not indicated any review leading to overturning the result.
The viral narrative seems amplified by partisan fan content on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and X, where sensational thumbnails and titles (e.g., “shockwaves across English football,” “EFL statement sending shockwaves”) drive engagement. Chelsea’s conservative approach in the second leg—criticized by pundits like Paul Merson as going “out with a whimper” despite needing a goal—also shifted focus away from pure officiating blame in some analyses. Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior defended his tactics and hit back at pundit criticism.
Overall, while the game featured debatable decisions typical of high-stakes matches (and VAR scrutiny remains a hot topic in the Premier League era), the core claim of an EFL directive for a replay lacks substantiation from credible sources. Arsenal’s progression stands, with Havertz’s late strike (a poignant moment against his former club) proving decisive in a tense but low-event contest. Football continues to debate refereeing standards, but this tie concluded without official intervention to restart it.
