Enzo Maresca calls for VAR change after Crystal Palace star avoided red card in Chelsea draw

Enzo Maresca has called for a VAR rule change after Will Hughes wasn’t sent off in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Maresca’s wait for a first win at Stamford Bridge goes on after Nicolas Jackson’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Eberechi Eze’s stunning strike after the break.

The result means Chelsea have won just one of their opening three Premier League games of the season, and two of the first five in all competitions.

The Blues manager was naturally frustrated, stating this his side ‘completely deserved’ to win the match and was especially annoyed with one refereeing decision.

Just minutes into the second-half, Hughes, who had already been booked, brought down Cole Palmer on the edge of the box, with Maresca and home fans expecting Jarred Gillett to produce a second yellow and red card.

But that did not happen, leading to an outburst from Maresca on the sideline, while Palace boss Oliver Glasner instantly decided to haul Hughes off for Cheick Doucoure who was involved in the build-up to Eze’s equaliser soon after.

‘We were 1-0 up, that was probably a second yellow card and the game would have changed,’ Maresca said in his post-match press conference.

‘The reaction from their bench to change him immediately, I think was quite clear, but the referee saw it a different way, so I have nothing to say.

‘He [the fourth official] said that the referee didn’t see that as a second yellow card. This is the only thing he said.’

Yellow card incidents are not something the Video Assistant Referee can look into, regardless of whether they can or do lead to a red card, as evidenced by the non-intervention into Arsenal star Declan Rice’s sending off against Brighton on Saturday.

Asked whether VAR should be allowed to look at second bookable offences, Maresca replied: ‘I think so, I think so.

‘I think it is the correct way. If you ask me the same, I think there are not many things to add that it was a second yellow card and a red card.

‘The only one thinking a different way was the referee but he is the one who decides.’

Glasner meanwhile believed the referee made the right call not to show Hughes a second yellow but admitted he should have subbed the player off earlier to avoid such a scenario.

‘I don’t know if he was lucky but it was a very big mistake from myself,’ the Eagles manager said.

‘My assistant said at half time to take him off but I decided to keep him longer. I am really happy the referee didn’t destroy my Sunday.

‘He was a little bit late but it was not a terrible foul. I think it was a good decision for the game because otherwise there would have been many yellow cards and we want to see 11 v 11.’

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