Steve Cooper Criticizes Referee After Defeat

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper expressed frustration over referee Andy Madley's performance during their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, criticizing missed penalty opportunities. He claimed they should have received a penalty for a challenge on Stephy Mavididi before VAR awarded a late penalty that was initially ruled out for offside. Cooper highlighted that this season has been particularly challenging with Madley, who has officiated multiple controversial matches involving Leicester. He noted that Madley's decisions were detrimental to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), especially following ongoing scrutiny of refereeing standards. The Premier League reported improved decision accuracy this season, yet Cooper's remarks underscore lingering issues with officiating consistency. He concluded by suggesting that further discussions may be necessary regarding refereeing standards.