Enzo Maresca Calls For VAR Intervention After Hughes Avoids Booking

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called for VAR to be used for potential second yellow card offenses after Will Hughes narrowly escaped a sending-off during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Hughes was already on a booking when he brought down Cole Palmer on the edge of the box minutes after half-time and Palace manager, Oliver Glasner later admitted he made “a very big mistake” by not taking the midfielder off at half-time.

Hughes was substituted for Cheick Doucoure right after the incident, while Chelsea was ahead 1-0 at that moment.

However, Eberechi Eze’s goal in the second half secured a draw for the visitors.

“At that moment, we were 1-0 up, and it was probably a second yellow card,” Maresca said. “They [would have been] with ten and the game completely changes. Also, their reaction from their bench, to change him immediately, made it quite clear. But the referee saw it differently, so nothing to say.”

The incident came just 24 hours after Declan Rice was controversially sent off for two bookings in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton at the Emirates.

The England midfielder received a yellow card for delaying a restart, an aspect referees are focusing on this season.

However, replays revealed that Brighton defender Joel Veltman couldn’t have taken a quick free-kick anyway, as the ball was still in motion.

Asked whether VAR should be able to intervene in instances like the Hughes non-dismissal, Maresca said: “I think so, I think so.”

He added, “I think it’s the correct way. There aren’t many things to add because it was clear to all of us that it was a second yellow card and a red card. The only one thinking differently was the referee, but he’s the one that decides.”

A 1-1 draw gave Palace their first point of the season heading into the international break, with Glasner now hopeful his side can kick on and rediscover their superb form from the end of last season.

“I don’t know if he was lucky, but it was a very big mistake from myself,” Glasner said when asked about the Hughes incident. “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.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea will assess Malo Gusto’s fitness after the full-back was substituted in the match, grabbing his hamstring.

“Malo, we’ll see,” Maresca said. “It looks like a muscle problem and we’ll see.”