A fiery Chelsea versus Arsenal clash saw Moises Caicedo sent off but Piero hincapie escaped the same fate when he caught Trevoh Chalobah with an elbow at Stamford Bridge
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has rubbished any suggestion Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie should have been sent off for catching Trevoh Chalobah with his elbow. The Ecuador international left the Chelsea star with a marked cheek with his first-half challenge but was only shown a yellow card.
There were quick calls from Chelsea ranks for a red to be brandished after Moises Caicedo had already been given his marching orders, thanks to VAR’s intervention. Blues boss Enzo Maresca was left in disbelief when Hincapie was not given the same punishment.
The Gunners were unable to capitalise on their advantage as Chalobah first got on the scoresheet. Mikel Merino, the player fouled by Caicedo, levelled the scores for the visitors.
But it was not by a stroke of good fortune that Arsenal kept 10 men on the field. Ex-official Gallagher reckons no more than a yellow was warranted for Hincapie and that the blemish left on Chalobah perhaps disguised that.
“I actually think it’s a yellow card,” said Gallagher. “I think you have to be very careful not to be seduced by looking at his cheek. You have to judge the challenge.
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“The player has lept, he’s used his arms as leverage, he hasn’t swung his elbow, he’s not used it as a weapon. He’s caught him, there’s no doubt about that.
“It’s a flailing arm, it’s an unfortunate injury, but it’s a reckless challenge; it’s not a challenge where he’s gone to inflict hurt and pain on that player.”
It appears unlikely Blues boss Maresca will accept that reasoning. The Italian coach believes his side have been unfairly hurt after they watched Rodrigo Bentancur also avoid red last month.
Told Reece James said Arsenal should have been down to 10 men, Maresca said in his press conference: “I think Reece is right. But they decide.
“I just said there, he asked me about Moises’ red card. It’s a red card, but why was Bentancur’s against Reece not a red card when we were at Spurs away? So us, as a manager, we struggle to understand why they judge in different way.
“Moises’ is red card, yes. Bentancur’s is a red card, yes. Why they don’t give him a red card? It’s just that, that we struggle to understand. The reality is that it’s red card. But why they judge in different way?
“And the Trevoh one, I asked the referee, he said to me that it was not an elbow. So, this is what they said. [He had a] black eye, with ice at half-time. But they judge in different way.”
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