Ex-Fifa official: Antonio Rudiger should get extended ban as Chelsea controversy analysed – ‘I was amazed’
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger should have received a straight red card for his challenge on Wesley Fofana last Thursday.
That is according to ex-Fifa and Premier League official Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident at Stamford Bridge.
Rudiger was penalised after a two-footed challenge on Fofana in the second half of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
However, referee Stuart Attwell did not deem the incident worthy of a red card and instead brandished Rudiger with a yellow.
VAR chose not to call Attwell over to the pitch-side monitor to review his decision.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his assessment of Rudiger’s tackle, Hackett said: “Rudiger dives in.
“That is a red card. He has dived in, launched himself and is out of control. It’s endangering the opponent. It is a clear red card.
“I was watching that and couldn’t believe that VAR didn’t come in.
“It does not matter the direction of the tackle. It can be in front, through, to the side or behind the player – it is a red card. That challenge endangers the safety of the opponent and by doing that he is very, very fortunate to not have been sent off.
“I was amazed VAR did not come in on that one. Rudiger got away with it.
“The referee was not at the races in regards to his position.”
In other news, a pundit has called for a radical rule change after Liverpool and Chelsea development is analysed.