Sunderland moved off the Premier League basement after Enzo Le Fee's penalty sealed a controversial 1-0 win over Chelsea.
Two incidents, two outcomes
Sunderland penalty (awarded)
33rd minute
- Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot after Levi Colwill brought down Brian Brobbey
- Replays showed both players holding each other as Brobbey turned
- Brobbey's right foot clipped his left as he entered the box
- It remains unclear whether Colwill also clipped Brobbey's heels
Chelsea penalty (denied)
Second half incident
- Cole Palmer went down under a challenge from Luke O'Nien on the edge of the area
- O'Nien's left leg appeared to come across Palmer without touching the ball
- Palmer's momentum carried him down inside the box
- VAR ruled the contact took place outside the area
Sunderland penalty decision
On Sunday, 8 November 2026, two disputed penalty incidents dominated the Stadium of Light clash, exposing the fine margins of VAR intervention. The result deepens Chelsea's slump while relieving immediate pressure on Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris.
After Levi Colwill brought down Brian Brobbey, referee Jarred Gillett awarded Sunderland a penalty in the 33rd minute, with Chelsea players around Colwill appealing immediately when Gillett pointed to the spot.
Le Fee sent goalkeeper Mike Penders the wrong way, into the bottom-right corner. He'd missed a potentially game-changing penalty at home against Arsenal in September.
Both players were holding each other as Brobbey turned, replays showed: Brobbey had his left arm on Colwill's back, while Colwill had his right arm on Brobbey's shirt.
As Brobbey entered the box, what appeared to trip him up was his right foot clipping his left. Whether Colwill also clipped his heels remains unclear.
Former Premier League referee Darren Cann backed the decision.
"Brobbey and Levi Colwill were tussling outside the box and then it appeared there was lower leg contact on Brobbey which brought him down"
Gillett had a clear view of the infringement, Cann added, making the penalty justified. Sky Sports co-commentator Chris Sutton offered a different view of the same challenge.
"Maybe it's six for one, half a dozen for the other in terms of the holding, but Colwill clips him"
Colwill had been bullied by Brobbey, Sutton said, and Sunderland were deservedly in front.
