Arsenal legend, David Seaman, has criticized Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for his play-acting in the Blues’ Premier League win over West Ham United last weekend.
Chelsea came from a goal down to beat West Ham United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, though the match was tainted after the Hammers had a 90th-minute equaliser controversially ruled out.
Mendy was unable to hold onto the ball while under pressure from winger Jarrod Bowen, gifting it to Maxwel Cornet, who put the ball in the back of the net.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials told referee Andy Madley to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, showing that as Bowen jumped over Mendy, his trailing foot lightly caught the Chelsea keeper.
Madley and the officials deemed this to be a foul, and the goal was cancelled.
Reacting to the incident, Seaman was equally scathing of Mendy’s actions, explaining that what the 28-year-old had done would never have happened during his playing days.
“He [Edouard Mendy] can see the ball is not clear, so when I used to play, you would get up straight away,” He said on the Seaman Says podcast.
“The only thing that would stop you getting up would be if your arm was broken or if your shoulder was out. If not, get up and try and save it.
“I think it is a bit soft. Get up and try and stop the ball with anything and then go and get treatment. He could see easily that the ball was not clear and had gone to an opposing player.
“It was just a coming together of bodies, he [Jarrod Bowen] did not even put his foot in, it was just like a trailing foot.
“An absolute shocker, that was such a bad decision [from the officials] it was frightening.”