Leicester boss Steve Cooper rages at PGMOL after controversial Chelsea defeat

Leicester manager Steve Cooper has lambasted referee Andy Madley’s handling of their 2-1 loss to Chelsea, branding it “the last thing the PGMOL needed”.

This match marked the first Premier League game since referee David Coote faced suspension after being filmed making disparaging comments about Liverpool and ex-manager Jurgen Klopp.

Cooper was incensed by Madley’s refusal to award a penalty in the 84th minute when Stephy Mavididi was brought down by Wesley Fofana – a decision upheld by VAR.

Although Leicester were later granted a penalty, which Jordan Ayew converted, it followed an initial incorrect offside ruling.

Cooper, whose team had fallen behind due to goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Maresca, cited previous issues with Madley this season and expressed sympathy for PGMOL chief Howard Webb.

“When you play against teams like Chelsea, it’s about capitalising on your moments and hoping that the game is refereed in the right way, there is some of it on us,” Cooper remarked.

“We have had a tough season with the referee this year. This is the last thing the PGMOL needed this weekend, it’s not just a performance like that, but it being the first game as well. I felt a bit sorry for Howard (Webb). That’s how it is.

“It’s definitely topical, everyone wants it to be at the level it should be at. When international breaks give the chance to talk about things. That will be the case again.”

Madley was the VAR who made a contentious decision to award a goal to Crystal Palace against Leicester earlier in the season, and he also booked Cooper during the 5-2 Carabao Cup defeat at Manchester United last month.

When asked if Madley refereeing his side’s games in the future would be an issue, Cooper replied: “I shouldn’t get into that. I’d love to answer that to be honest but I’d be sat in the directors’ box. It’s an interesting season with him, sometimes it can go like that.”

Cooper’s frustration with the officials overshadowed a lacklustre performance, as Enzo Maresca enjoyed a winning return to the King Power Stadium.

Chelsea took an early lead through Jackson and added to it with a goal from Fernandez after the break, moving them up to third in the table. Cole Palmer played the full 90 minutes, having withdrawn from international duty with England due to an injury.

England captain Harry Kane expressed disappointment at the number of withdrawals, but Maresca insisted that Palmer was not pressured by the club to skip the Nations League games. “Absolutely not,” he said.

“I am not thinking about what Harry Kane has said. My reaction is that we finished the game 10 minutes ago, we won 2-1 and there are not any comments, not any reaction, we just finished the game 10 minutes ago.”