Frank Lampard defends Callum Hudson-Odoi after yellow card for diving
Referee Michael Oliver booked the England international late on in the 4-2 win over Burnley
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Your support makes all the difference.Frank Lampard has defended Callum Hudson-Odoi after the England international was booked for allegedly diving in the win over Burnley.
A hat-trick from Christian Pulisic and a fourth goal from Willian secured a 4-2 win for the Blues at Turf Moor.
With around 15 minutes left, 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.
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."
When Burnley boss Sean Dyche spoke about the incident, he called for players to "respect the game".
"I can't abide it. I don't know why it's in the game," Dyche said.
"We were told by the Premier League the worst you can get is a yellow card, so everyone has a chance to cheat once a game knowing they are not going to get sent off.
"It's not about the player tonight - the greater good of the game. Because it's shambolic how people just dive all over the place. I keep hearing this word respect. Respect the game. That is what people should be doing.
"They have got to do something more. To be clear, Chelsea were too strong for us, this is not to try to divert off it, it's just something I feel passionately about.
"Get the players to behave properly. Just get them to play the game."
Dyche said it was "worse" that a young player was involved, and added: "They are the future of the game.
"If they are diving now, you'll have massive trouble in about five or 10 years' time, because the game will be a farce. We didn't used to accept it, but we do now."
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