Premier League side seek VAR 'clarification' after controversial decision infuriates manager

Leicester City have demanded 'clarification' from the Premier League on why Crystal Palace's first goal in their draw was allowed to stand.

The Foxes had taken a 2-0 lead thanks to goals either side of half time from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi. But seconds after Mavididi's strike, Palace had pulled a goal back through Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The Frenchman slotted past Mads Hermansen from Tyrick Mitchell's low cross. But referee Tony Harrington ruled the goal out for an apparent offside, though that decision was overturned by VAR Andy Madley.

Images shown while Madley was reviewing the goal appeared to cast doubt on the decision to allow it to stand though. The angle from which the VAR team made their decision was the main cause of confusion, though it was claimed the outstretched leg of James Justin, played Mateta onside.

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Mateta would go on to net a stoppage time penalty to rescue a draw for Palace. It is not the penalty Leicester have a problem with though, but the offside decision which allowed Mateta's goal to stand.

It is understood that the Foxes have now 'sought clarification' from the Premier League over why the goal stood. They have questioned whether the images of the incident were conclusive.

The Premier League's new refereeing match centre insisted the decision was correct. In a statement they said: "Mateta’s goal is initially ruled out for offside but VAR confirmed that he was onside and the goal is awarded."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal have been ruled out? Comment below.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper admitted his frustration in the aftermath of the draw. And he hit out at the decision to allow Mateta's opening goal to stand, insisting he would be complaining.

"It feels like a loss," Cooper said. "We looked a real Premier League team in the first half. We've had a perfect start to the second half and then not so perfect straight after it. We're really frustrated with both goals. There was a real momentum change.

“I really want to see the absolute offside image of the first goal. If it is, no problem, we’ll hold our hands up, but we can’t be calling offsides on suggestions, which is only what we’ve seen at the moment. We need to get that image quickly off the Premier League.

"If it is, I’ll accept it. I'll be straight on to the club, and I'm sure they are, to see the image. I've not seen it yet. We definitely need to see it, we need to contact the Premier League and get a clear still of the image that shows he was offside. We'll accept it, if so."

Leicester remain winless in the Premier League this season, though the draw with Palace and the opening day stalemate against Spurs have kept them out of the relegation zone. The Foxes host rock bottom Everton on Saturday.

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