Liam Delap deserved to be sent off, as ex-refs chief re-analyses Chelsea-Tottenham controversy
Liam Delap should not have stayed on the pitch after an act of “violent conduct” during the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Chelsea striker deserved a straight red card when being cautioned at Stamford Bridge.
In the 87th minute, the 23-year-old was shown a yellow card by Stuart Attwell following a battle for a bouncing ball with Djed Spence, leaving his opponent in pain on the floor.
Replays showed a strong use of the arm as he attempted to wrestle the Tottenham defender off the ball, and was seemingly baffled when he was yellow-carded at the end of Chelsea’s win on Tuesday, 19 May.
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Liam Delap gets away with ‘violent conduct’ vs Tottenham
Delap is hardly a stranger to picking up yellow cards, having also done so against Nottingham Forest just three games ago, but this incident should have ended much, much worse for him, or so it is believed.
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Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Frankly, this should have been detected by VAR, and the referee should have been advised to review this at the monitor.
“Delap has looked at his opponent before illegally using his arm/elbow on his opponent – an act of violent conduct that should have resulted in a red card.”
With Roberto De Zerbi’s side pushing for an equaliser, following goals from Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos, it could have been a turning point for Spurs, but the Blues’ No.9 got away with it.
Djed Spence makes his feelings clear after Stamford Bridge clash
Spence, who was on the end of Delap’s elbow, clearly couldn’t believe it after rewatching the footage, taking to social media after the game to laugh it off.
All supporters in the ground were likely concerned about the centre-forward being given his marching orders, but Attwell didn’t see it properly, and VAR failed to intervene.
Despite Chelsea securing an important three points, it was yet another frustrating evening for the striker, who is being increasingly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Mick Brown told Football Insider that Xabi Alonso could send Delap to Everton, with David Moyes’ side long-term admirers of the former Ipswich Town man. This might be one of his final acts in a Chelsea shirt.
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