‘He was very lucky’ – Patrick Vieira insists decision not send off Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was ‘wrong’

Silva clawed the ball out of Ayew’s path (Picture: Getty)

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was ‘very lucky’ not to be sent off for his deliberate handball at Selhurst Park.

The incident took place 30 minutes into the first-half when the Brazil international slipped under pressure from Jordan Ayew. In a desperate attempt to prevent the Palace forward from racing through on goal, Silva palmed the ball away out of his path.

The veteran defender was shown a yellow card with VAR ruling that no clear and obvious error had been made.

The Eagles had earlier taken the lead through Odsonne Edouard after eight minutes but saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang score with his first Chelsea goal shortly after the incident – with Silva getting the assist.

Chelsea boss Potter admitted he could understand Palace’s frustration after the game. ‘It’s a close one, I can understand Patrick’s [Vieira] frustration. It’s a 50-50 one,’ he said.

Responding to Potter’s comments, former Arsenal captain Vieira laughed before admitting the decision was difficult to accept.

‘I think he was very lucky,’ he told BBC Sport. ‘But it is the referee’s decision, the VAR decision but it is difficult to understand it and difficult to accept it.

Silva received a yellow card for the incident (Picture: Getty)

‘Today it was against us and we just have to move on.’

Vieira added on the result: ‘We are frustrated because we deserve at least a point today, but we just have to take it on the chin and work on it for the next game.’

In his post-match press conference, Vieira insisted referee Chris Kavanagh ‘got it wrong’ but was reluctant to discuss the incident further.

More: Chelsea FC

‘With Thiago, it’s something I don’t want to talk about. It’s difficult for me to understand it, to accept it, so it’s better sometimes to be quiet and not talk about it.

‘I believe the referee got it wrong and if I say what I think, I will be in trouble. So I’d rather not talk about.

‘I don’t want to talk about it because I don’t understand that decision and I don’t want to talk about it. There is a referee, there is a VAR and they are making decisions and we just move on.’

MORE : Conor Gallagher opens up about his ‘unfortunate’ first Chelsea goal

MORE : ‘That is what you want!’ – Graham Potter hails Conor Gallagher impact as Chelsea midfielder comes back to haunt Crystal Palace

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.