Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called for the referees to be more consistent after Moises Caicedo was shown a red card in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Sunday (November 30).
The 24-year-old was initially shown a yellow card for a rash challenge on Mikel Merino by referee Anthony Taylor before VAR intervened and called him to the monitor.
Upon review, Taylor upgraded the yellow to a straight red and Caicedo will now miss Chelsea’s next three games against Leeds, Bournemouth, and Everton.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Maresca acknowledged that it was the right decision, but called for greater consistency, comparing the tackle to Rodrigo Bentancur’s on Reece James earlier in the season.
“I think he red card is the red card,’ he said.
‘I struggle to understand the different ways to judge. What about Bentancur to Reece? Why is one a red card and one isn’t? I think it’s a red card tonight, it’s clear. Why the difference? Is what it is.
“Moises is always the same way. Top player for us. The desire from him is to try and win the game.
“It’s football. It’s between Chelsea and Arsenal.
“You have to double the effort, that is the most important thing. We didn’t change a lot on the ball. We tried to go to Liam. In open play, the idea was exactly the same.
“I think we are better than last season. We are closer. We’ll see where we are in February and March and then we’ll assess our target.”
