Maresca Questions Refereeing Criteria After Caicedo’s Red Card in Chelsea-Arsenal Draw

Enzo Maresca has expressed his concern about the consistency in refereeing decisions in the Premier League, following Moisés Caicedo’s expulsion in the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Arsenal. Caicedo was sent off with a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor, after a VAR review for a late tackle on Mikel Merino, seven minutes before halftime at Stamford Bridge.

Despite playing with ten men, Chelsea took the lead thanks to Trevoh Chalobah’s goal in the 48th minute, before Merino equalized for Arsenal near the hour mark.

Enzo Maresca has lamented the lack of consistency from the referees.

I think Reece is right, but… I’m being asked about Moi Caicedo’s red card. It’s a red card. But, why isn’t Bentancur’s tackle on Reece a red card? We just can’t understand it.

Enzo Maresca

Although Maresca did not question Caicedo’s expulsion, the Chelsea coach believes that Piero Hincapié should also have been sent off for an elbow on Chalobah. He also referred to the yellow card shown to Rodrigo Bentancur for a late tackle on Reece James in the victory against Tottenham on November 1st.

James claimed that Hincapié was lucky not to be sent off. Maresca, whose team has accumulated seven red cards this season, stated: “I think Reece is right, but… they ask me about Moi Caicedo’s red card. It’s a red card. But, why isn’t Bentancur’s tackle on Reece a red card? We just can’t understand it.” “The reality is that it’s a red card. But, why do they judge differently? And about Trevoh, I asked the referee. He told me it wasn’t an elbow. He had a black eye, was icing it at halftime, but they judge differently.”

Chelsea and Arsenal’s title hopes make for a wildly entertaining derby

Mikel Merino brands Caicedo red card challenge “horrible”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta accused Chelsea of “constantly targeting” his players who had yellow cards, in an attempt to balance the match after Caicedo’s expulsion. Arsenal received four yellow cards in the first half: Martín Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, and Hincapié. Arteta substituted Calafiori at halftime for Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was cautioned nine minutes after the restart. “After Caicedo’s sending-off, we wanted to secure the match,” Arteta said. “We didn’t make it. We had four yellow cards. Obviously, those players were constantly targeted to try to even the game in terms of numbers. At halftime, we said ‘OK, let’s pause it now'”.