Ex-refs chief drops Piero Hincapie ‘violent conduct’ verdict after analysing Arsenal vs Chelsea footage
Piero Hincapie was right to only be issued a yellow card when his elbow connected with Trevoh Chalobah during Arsenal’s draw at Chelsea.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider, that Hincapie did not use violent conduct against Chalobah.
Moises Caicedo was sent off for Chelsea in the first half, but Arsenal were reliant on a Mikel Merino equaliser to nick them a point at Stamford Bridge.
Chalobah had put Chelsea ahead in the second half, though they could not hold out for the win to reduce the gap on Arsenal to just three points.
Keith Hackett explains Piero Hincapie yellow
Chelsea felt that Arsenal should have been reduced to ten men when Hincapie’s elbow connected with Chalobah, which the defender was given a yellow card for.
Hincapie was starting due to Gabriel’s injury absence for Arsenal and William Saliba also not available for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, believes Taylor made the correct decision not sending off Hincapie: “Let me explain what the referee is looking for as a guide between the difference between yellow and red.
“Yellow is reckless, red is violent conduct, excessive force etc. And what we look for first of all is a clinched fist, a bent elbow and backward movement. And we know then the elbow and the arm is being used as a weapon.
“In this situation I felt rightly that this was worthy of a yellow card and not a red and they got that one right like they got the red card right.”
William Saliba doubt vs Brentford
Mikel Arteta had a choice before the game who to start for Arsenal against Chelsea in the absence of Gabriel.
Arteta though was forced to partner Cristian Mosquera and Hincapie together for the first time in the Premier League.
The pair were both booked in the contest, and the partnership was put to the test by a combative and front-footed Chelsea team.
With a fixture against Brentford in midweek, Arteta may have to continue working on the relationship between Mosquera and Hincapie with Saliba a doubt for the contest.