Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed frustration over the inconsistency of refereeing decisions following Moisés Caicedo’s red card in their match against Arsenal on Sunday. While Maresca agreed that the challenge was deserving of a red, he questioned why a similar incident involving Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur had not resulted in the same punishment.
Last month, Bentancur was booked for a foul on Reece James, with VAR agreeing that a yellow card was sufficient. However, when Caicedo was booked for a similar challenge on Mikel Merino, VAR intervened, leading to a red card.
“It’s a red card, but why was Bentancur’s against Reece [James] not a red card when we were at Spurs away?” Maresca asked. “We struggle to understand why they judge in a different way. Moisés’ is a red card, yes. Bentancur’s is a red card, yes. Why don’t they give him a red card?”
So, what made the difference between the two decisions?
The inconsistency in VAR reviews often comes down to subtle differences in the incidents, including factors like the player’s position, the timing of the challenge, and the level of force involved. Bentancur’s foul on James was late and reckless but did not involve excessive force. In contrast, Caicedo’s challenge on Merino was slightly higher, with a more pronounced buckle to Merino’s ankle, suggesting greater force.
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel had supported Bentancur’s yellow card by a 4-1 vote, concluding that his challenge was “low, just slightly late and reckless.” Meanwhile, the KMI Panel would back the red card for Caicedo, but it acknowledged that similar challenges could soon be deemed only a yellow, as consistency in officiating remains a challenge.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the KMI Panel has flagged 12 errors in serious foul play reviews, highlighting the difficulty in maintaining uniformity across similar incidents.
**The VAR Process Explained**
The situation surrounding Caicedo’s red card seemed a bit confusing, with questions arising as to whether VAR had instructed the referee to issue a yellow card. However, the reality is simpler.
Referee Anthony Taylor played advantage to Arsenal as the loose ball fell to Eberechi Eze, but once the ball went out for a throw-in, he returned to book Caicedo, who had been receiving treatment. Referees are instructed to wait until a player is back on their feet before issuing a card, so the delay wasn’t due to a VAR review—it was because Caicedo was being treated by the physio.
As soon as Taylor issued a yellow card, VAR referee John Brooks reviewed the incident and determined there was enough force to justify a red. After Taylor showed the yellow, Brooks immediately recommended a review at the pitchside monitor, leading to the red card.
**Other Notable Referee Decisions**
Elsewhere, another controversial VAR decision arose when referee Chris Kavanagh rejected a red card review for Jhon Arias in Aston Villa’s match against Wolves. The VAR felt that Arias had endangered Boubacar Kamara’s safety with a two-footed jump but determined the tackle didn’t meet the threshold for a red card, despite it being reckless.
In a similar vein, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez escaped a red card for a dangerous two-footed challenge on Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada last season, aided by a little-known guideline that prevents red cards when the tackle doesn’t make direct contact with the opponent’s body.
**Chelsea’s Goal Controversy**
Chelsea’s win against Arsenal also saw some offside controversy, as Enzo Fernandez stood in an offside position when Trevoh Chalobah scored. While Fernandez didn’t touch the ball, his proximity to the defenders raised questions about whether his positioning influenced the play. The VAR team decided there was no impact, but many still questioned the consistency of offside rulings.
**Hincapie’s Elbow Incident**
Another incident in the game saw Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie elbow Chelsea’s Chalobah in the face. Maresca queried the lack of a red card for the challenge, but the referee decided it wasn’t a foul. For the referee to issue a red card for an elbow, it must meet specific criteria, including whether the player raised their arm aggressively or made the challenge with force. In this case, no such factors were present, so the yellow card was deemed appropriate.
As with many decisions in the Premier League, consistency remains a key issue, and players, managers, and fans continue to debate the fairness of VAR’s role in influencing outcomes.
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