Referee Jarred Gillett has come under scrutiny following the controversial penalty decision that handed Sunderland a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League encounter at the Stadium of Light.

The Australian official awarded Sunderland a spot-kick after Chelsea defender Levi Colwill was adjudged to have fouled striker Brian Brobbey inside the penalty area, a decision that sparked protests from Chelsea players and renewed debate over the use of VAR, blueprint reports.

Reports suggesting that Gillett could face an investigation by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have circulated following the incident. However, no official confirmation of an investigation had been issued as of Monday.

The controversy has intensified after former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett questioned the decision, insisting that VAR should have intervened to overturn the penalty.

Former PGMOL chief questions penalty decision

Hackett, speaking to Football Insider, argued that Brobbey was the offender in the tussle with Colwill and should not have been awarded a penalty.

He said: “In my opinion, the Sunderland penalty kick awarded by referee Jarred Gillett should’ve seen the intervention of VAR.

“Review of the video shows that the Sunderland player is in fact the offender, holding his opponent by the shirt and dragging him to the ground behind him. Not a penalty kick for me.”

His assessment added to the debate surrounding the decision, particularly because both players appeared to be holding each other’s shirts during the challenge.

However, former Premier League referee Darren Cann offered a different interpretation, backing Gillett’s decision and arguing that there was contact on Brobbey’s lower leg inside the penalty area.

The contrasting views have further divided opinion over whether the referee made the correct call.

How the penalty decided the match

The incident occurred in the 36th minute when Brobbey went down following his tussle with Colwill inside Chelsea’s penalty area.

Gillett pointed to the spot, despite immediate protests from Chelsea players who believed the Sunderland forward had also pulled Colwill during the challenge.

Enzo Le Fée stepped forward and converted the penalty, sending Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders the wrong way to give Sunderland the only goal of the encounter.

Chelsea were unable to find an equaliser despite pushing forward in the second half, with Sunderland holding on to secure all three points.

The victory ended Sunderland’s winless run in the Premier League and lifted the club off the bottom of the table.

Chelsea also questioned earlier penalty appeal

The penalty awarded to Sunderland was not the only major officiating decision that attracted attention during the encounter.

Chelsea had earlier appealed for a penalty after Cole Palmer was brought down by Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien while advancing towards the penalty area.

Gillett initially allowed play to continue, while VAR official Nick Hopton reviewed the incident and upheld the on-field decision.

The Premier League Match Centre subsequently explained that the contact on Palmer occurred outside the penalty area.

Its statement read: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Chelsea was checked and confirmed by VAR. VAR: ‘Confirming the on-field decision of play on, any contact with Palmer occurs outside the penalty area.’”

Chelsea’s official match report described the incident as a very tight decision, while acknowledging that the club felt the challenge warranted a penalty.

The two incidents have since become the major talking points from the match, with Chelsea supporters questioning the consistency of the decisions.

Alonso refuses to blame referee

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso declined to make the controversial penalty the focus of his post-match assessment, instead insisting that his players should have defended the situation better.

He said his team had not done enough to deserve more from the encounter and accepted responsibility for the defensive mistake that led to the decisive goal.

Goalkeeper Penders, however, expressed a different view, arguing that Colwill had barely touched Brobbey and that the decision went against Chelsea.

The defeat left Chelsea with another setback in their Premier League campaign, while Sunderland celebrated a significant home victory.

Although criticism of Gillett’s decision has continued, the question of whether PGMOL will formally review the referee’s performance remains unconfirmed.