The Premier League have confirmed in a statement why Ipswich Town did not see their crucial tenth-minute penalty rescinded against Chelsea on Monday night.

Enzo Maresca's side travelled to Portman Road to face newly-promoted opposition in their final match of 2024, with the goal of chasing down runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool.

With the Tractor Boys lodged in the relegation places, on paper the visitors came into the fray as strong favourites to get over a recent draw at Everton and defeat to Fulham.

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However, their woes have continued in these opening encounters as Liam Delap beat Filip Jorgensen from the penalty spot to put Ipswich into the lead.

The former Manchester City youth had actually won the spot-kick himself, racing to meet a pass in the penalty area. At the same time the Chelsea goalkeeper rushed out to meet him, with referee John Brooks blowing his whistle for a foul once he spotted contact.

Chelsea's players did not agree based on their immediate reactions, with the goalkeeper at fault and his defenders protesting their innocence.

As is customary, the VAR - which was the experienced Michael Oliver - reviewed the footage to determine the correct decision.

Now, the Premier League Match Centre account on X has published the official reasoning why Oliver sided with Brooks' on-field call.

The statement read: "The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Jorgensen on Delap was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty."

So, the decision stood and Delap narrowly put the hosts ahead as Jorgensen guessed the correct direction of the penalty, though could not dive close enough to the corner to make the save.

To heap further misery on Maresca and his men, Joao Felix has since seen what would have been an equalising goal ruled out by Oliver on VAR for offside.

A follow-up statement for that one read: "Felix’s goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."