Enzo Maresca on the sidelines, Andoni Iraola in a circular inset
Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Tue 30 December 2025 22:18, UK
Bournemouth supporters were crying out for one of Chelsea’s biggest stars to be sent off, but Samuel Barrott got the decision spot-on.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Moises Caicedo was not in danger of a red card due to the referee’s “excellent” positioning.
Caicedo has been sensational for Chelsea, but with his fifth yellow card of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, the 24-year-old is now suspended for the Blues’ upcoming clash with Man City.
Picking up that yellow card after just four minutes, the midfielder was walking a tightrope, to say the least, and it could have been even worse after his challenge on Evanilson in the 16th minute.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo looking determined
Credit: Imago
Moises Caicedo urged to take more care after early challenges
Hackett has noticed a dangerous trend of studs-up challenges in the Premier League this season, but after getting away with just a foul, he explained how the referee reached that decision.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Caicedo, on a yellow card, needed to take care with his challenges for the remainder of the game to stay on.
“Referee Samuel Barrott was in an excellent position to judge. The challenge was ‘careless’, not ‘reckless’. In law, ‘careless’ is sanctioned with a free-kick only. I am satisfied that the foul did not prevent a promising attack, either.”
Ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett in the stands at a game.
Credit: Getty Images
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While nothing can undo the suspension next to Caicedo’s name, it will be a huge sigh of relief that his ban is not extended beyond just one game at Stamford Bridge.
How could Enzo Maresca’s team line up vs Man City now?
Without their best midfielder, Enzo Maresca will have to do plenty of thinking before travelling to the Etihad Stadium on 4 January, which could be a defining game in their season.
Enzo Fernandez has thrived in Cole Palmer’s absence, but with the England international back now, he could be pushed back into a defensive midfield spot, possibly alongside Andrey Santos.
Romeo Lavia is still stuck on the treatment table, so that leaves the boss with very few options in the middle of the park, giving him a major headache up against Pep Guardiola.
Having Caicedo in the team certainly gives the manager something to think about because, without him, the team is so much weaker, but he can be a liability at times due to his reckless nature.