Cardiff vs Chelsea: Neil Warnock maintains Premier League has ‘worst officials’ in the world after controversial goal

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock insists the Premier League has the “worst officials” in the world right now after their failure to spot Cesar Azpilicueta in an offside position as he equalised for Chelsea.

Replays showed the Spaniard was offside at the moment Marcos Alonso flicked on a corner before burying a header from close range to cancel out Victor Camarasa’s opener.

The Blues would go on to win the match 2-1 thanks to Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s header in stoppage time, with Warnock admitting the manner of the victory was a “kick in the teeth.”

“I am deflated because we have worked hard for this game and felt we could win it,” Warnock told BBC Sport. “When you don’t win and it is nothing to do with ourselves it is a kick in the teeth.

“Against the big teams you have to have VAR because you don’t get the big decisions. The equalising goal is the winning goal really, and if you can’t see across the line and see offside I don’t know why we are in the game.

“I look at the two penalties we should have had and the red card against Kenneth Zohore.

“The biggest and best league in the world but probably the worst officials at the minute. What can I say about my lads?

“They were brilliant and it made for a great game. It kicks you in the teeth. We’ve had enough of them this year.”

And Warnock confronted the officials at full-time, standing meters away and staring at them, claiming he was protecting his players from incurring any potential bans.

“At that stage people might be happy to see you say something and get fined but what can you say? I wanted to get my lads away because I didn’t want to get anyone punished,” Warnock added. “Burnley and Southampton fans will be rubbing their hands in glee.

“It hurts. The referee had a decent game but we didn’t get the major decisions. The linesman, though... it is so disappointing. Chelsea know they have got away with murder today.

“We keep getting knock-backs, I will probably play the U23s on Wednesday against Manchester City and try to keep it down to 10 or 11. It doesn’t matter who you play at the minute, it is who has a flag in his hand and who has a whistle.”