West Ham appeal controversial Fabian Balbuena red card, with defender sent off by VAR for catching Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell AFTER clearing the ball – in a decision branded as ‘rubbish’ by boss David Moyes
- West Ham are to appeal Fabian Balbuena’s controversial red card vs Chelsea
- He caught Blues’ Ben Chilwell with his studs as he cleared the ball upfield
- Referee Chris Kavanagh checked the monitor and deemed a red card necessary
- Hammers boss David Moyes was stunned when the red card was shown
- Gary Lineker and Ian Wright took to twitter to voice their anger at the decision
West Ham are to appeal the controversial red card shown to defender Fabian Balbuena against Chelsea on Saturday, the PA news agency understands.
Balbuena was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh after he caught Blues full-back Ben Chilwell with his studs as he cleared the ball upfield.
Kavanagh did not initially blow for a foul but the incident was brought to his attention by VAR.
West Ham are to appeal the controversial red card shown to defender Fabian Balbuena
Balbuena cleared the ball up the pitch but slow-motion replays made the incident look worse
David Moyes criticised those responsible for making the decision to send off Fabian Balbuena
The official reviewed the footage on the pitchside monitor and then decided to show a straight red card to the Paraguayan centre-back.
Hammers boss David Moyes was stunned when the red card was shown, and believed it showed a lack of knowledge from those making the decisions.
‘I think it’s a decision made by someone who’s never played the game before,’ Moyes told Sky Sports.
‘Where is Balbuena meant to plant his foot? If they do think that’s a red card, the same one a few minutes later between Coufal and Rudiger is a very similar challenge. They didn’t do anything about it.
Chris Kavanagh checked the monitor to watch replays and decided a red card was necessary
‘You have somebody who doesn’t know the game. He kicks through the ball, and not for one minutes is there a bit of malice in that. It’s a rubbish decision.’
Moyes believes the problems are deep rooted and he has called upon referees to make a stand and begin to trust their own instincts, rather than seek assistance.
‘I just think we’ve seen another ridiculous weekend of decisions,’ he added. ‘We don’t know who to speak to now because they don’t make the decisions. I don’t see how they can make that a red card, I really don’t.
‘I actually think the referees in this country are very good and I feel as if the referees are not refereeing as they should be and that can only be coming from the top.
‘I can understand for maybe the referee to be making a mistake but for somebody to be looking at it from a screen and consider that a red card, I find that incredible.’
Gary Lineker and Ian Wright were among those to take to Twitter to voice their discontent and shock that a red card had been given.
Lineker tweeted: ‘Oh FFS, that is not a red card. He’s just clearing the ball. Ridiculous.’
Wright posted: ‘Sent off for kicking the ball’ and added a string of crying laughter emojis.
Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend also took to Twitter to vent his rage at the latest VAR controversy.
‘I can’t believe it….. I’ve just witnessed a man get sent off by clearing the ball…. this has to stop….. THE GAMES GONE,’ Townsend tweeted.
Oliver Holt added: ‘Balbuena sent off at West Ham after referee consults replays. I don’t get this one.
‘Balbuena clears the ball and his follow through means his foot connects with Chilwell’s calf. Effectively been sent off for kicking the ball. Which is a new one, even this season.’
‘VAR just got a player sent off for kicking a football,’ Piers Morgan posted.