Lampard refuses to accept Hudson-Odoi booking for simulation

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has defended Callum Hudson-Odoi after he was booked for simulation in the Blues’ 4-2 win over Burnley on Saturday evening.

Christian Pulisic was the star man for the visitors, opening his account with a perfect hat-trick that set his side on their way to a seventh successive win in all competitions.

With around 15 minutes left, however, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi went down under the attentions of James Tarkowski and Matthew Lowton and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, only for the decision to be overturned via VAR, with Hudson-Odoi booked.

Speaking about the incident, Lampard said: “If I felt like it was a dive, I’d speak to Callum and say that’s not what we’re about. But when you’re moving into the box at pace and cutting across defenders, whether the VAR decides it is a penalty or not is one thing.

 

 

“I thought there were a lot of things going on in the game, of people going down. Their bench wanted everything that was happening, every time Ashley Barnes has a contest in the air, he falls to the ground, they want a free-kick.

“If it was a dive I’d address it for sure. I need to look back at it but I actually don’t think it’s as clean cut an argument as that.”

Chelsea’s next game sees them host Manchester United in the EFL Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Read more: Lampard reveals why he has been hesitant with hat-trick hero Pulisic