Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Premier League

Harri Burton

Mon 25 May 2026 12:30, UK

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Wesley Fofana can certainly feel hard done by after being sent off during Chelsea‘s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Wilson Isidor also played a key role in the defender getting his marching orders on 24 May.

Having already picked up an earlier caution for a challenge on Brian Brobbey, he was shown a second yellow card just six minutes later in the 62nd minute, but there was outrage at the Stadium of Light.

Levi Colwill was adamant that it was he who brought Isidor down outside the penalty area, while Hackett believes that the Black Cats’ striker was pulling just as much as his opponent in Chelsea’s defeat.

Wesley Fofana has a right to be disappointed vs Sunderland

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee discussed the uncertainty around Fofana’s sending off, marking an eighth red card of the Premier League season for the Blues.

“I wish players would play with their feet and not with their hands and arms. But I think there is a degree of justification as to who started the process,” Hackett said.

“And it may well have been involvement with the Sunderland player first before the other guy pulls him to the ground. I think there’s justification. VAR will have looked several times and be satisfied that the main instigator is the guy who’s got the red card.

“But if we look at that challenge and we look at the outcome of it, I can understand why Chelsea feel aggrieved because in effect, they were both pulling each other, weren’t they?”

Chelsea red card sparks support for more VAR interference

For a long time, there has been debate around the use of VAR for second yellow cards, with many already feeling that the technology can’t get the basics correct, and this would only complicate matters.

However, Hackett clearly sees it differently, and Fofana’s sending off has sparked calls for the changes to be introduced for the 2026-27 campaign.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he said: “This is the difficulty for the referee. He sees it once, and the viewing angle can impact dramatically. So I’m not criticising the referee here. 

I think that whilst there are calls that VAR is not as good as it should be, and we’ve just discussed VAR and it’s not giving the right outcome, I do believe in the use of VAR on second yellows.

“I think FIFA are looking that way. As I understand it, FIFA are quite keen that VAR comes in on second yellows.”