Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has delved into Moises Caicedo's sending off in Chelsea's feisty encounter with title rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Caicedo was handed his marching orders after a studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino, although referee Anthony Taylor had initially handed the Ecuadorian a yellow card. VAR intervened and advised the official to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, and the official overturned the decision, upgrading it to a red card.
The Blues were dominant before they were reduced to 10 men, and they remained in control despite the disadvantage. It was the seventh time one of Enzo Maresca's men had been sent off this season.
Hackett Surprised Caicedo Red Card Took So Long
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Caicedo's foul didn't just leave Merino in need of medical attention, but the Chelsea man himself was treated as Taylor paused proceedings. His yellow card decision allowed VAR to review the incident, though there was no contact between the referee and the VAR team while the player was being treated on the ground, as per the rules.
Once Taylor rewatched the challenge on the pitchside monitor, he informed the supporters inside Stamford Bridge of his decision to send Caicedo off. The home fans were infuriated as a fierce London derby lived up to its billing.
Hackett explained the difficulties that come with officiating such a game while speaking to Football Insider:
"This London derby is always a difficult game to officiate and the PGMOL rightly put on their most experienced referee to officiate it.
He touched on Taylor's performance in the first half and suggested he was stunned he didn't immediately send Caicedo off:
"In the first 30 minutes, four yellow cards have been issued. But in a derby such as this tempers can easily be stirred and the challenge by Caicedo was a straight red. I was rather surprised, a touch disappointed, that Anthony Taylor didn't reach for his top pocket and produce that red a little quicker."
Hackett concluded:
"However, he pushed out the yellow, which brought in a VAR review, and it was evident, having a quick look at the screen, that Caicedo would be receiving his marching orders."
The PGMOL released a statement regarding Taylor's decision of which it read on X:
"After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Caicedo and issued a red card for serious foul play."
Caicedo had gone 222 professional club games as a player without a red card before tonight which is a real nuisance for Maresca. He's been a mainstay in the Italian's midfield and much of the pre-match talk was about his battle with the Gunners' Declan Rice.
How Long Chelsea Will Be Without Caicedo
Chelsea's Moises Caicedo and manager Enzo Maresca after the match
Caicedo has been vital for Chelsea this season and will be a huge miss for Maresca, whose side is Arsenal's closest challenger for the title. He will now miss three games for the West Londoners after being sent off for "serious foul play".
That means the Blues will be without their defensive midfielder for Wednesday's (December 3) trip to Leeds United. He will also sit out his side's encounter with Bournemouth at the Vitality next Saturday (December 6) and a clash at home with Everton (December 13).
Caicedo's next domestic appearance will come against Newcastle United at St James' Park on December 20. But he will be available for the trip to Atalanta in the Champions League on December 9.