Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer perplexed with decision to send off Fabian Balbuena
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer could not believe Fabian Balbuena was sent off for West Ham after a challenge on Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell.
The defender played a long ball forward and referee Chris Kavanagh was not aware of any foul play until he was told to go over to the TV monitor by VAR Peter Banks.
He then watched a replay of the action and deemed Balbuena to have committed a red card offence, much to the amazement of Lineker, Shearer and many others in the football community.
On BBC’s Match of the Day, Lineker said, “I never thought I’d see a red card given for kicking the football, it’s become a little bit ridiculous. Flabbergasting this decision really.”
Shearer then responded with criticism of the officials, saying, “Where is he meant to put his foot there? What I would say about this is Chris Kavanagh the on-field referee he’s got to get that right.
“Peter Banks tells him he should go to the screen to have a look at it. Have some, grow some, show some [backbone]. You should just say no I’m not having that I’m not accepting that’s a red card Peter Banks. It’s never ever been a red card.”
Lineker then pointed out the inconsistencies in the ref’s decision-making, referring to a point made by David Moyes.
He added, “And then David Moyes did have a point this was very similar [Valdimir Coufal challenge on Antonio Rudiger]. You see it a lot of times in football you kick through, you can’t not follow through with your foot.”
Absolute shocker
We thought we had seen the worst of football this week but boy, were we wrong.
The decision to send off a player for kicking the ball is a new low and undermines everything about the game we love.
As the pundits rightly point out, there was nowhere else for Balbuena to put his foot.
There was no intention to catch Chilwell, he was not looking at the Chelsea man at all and how that is a red card is beyond us.
But it is not just West Ham who struggled because of VAR this weekend.
Newcastle were denied a goal due to a ridiculous handball decision and Arsenal had a penalty ruled out for the tightest of offside calls.
Every week VAR is the main talking point instead of the football, so like the European Super League, it is killing the game.
We must get rid of it.
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports pundit lauded the ‘big appetite’ of a West Ham ace in first half v Chelsea.
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