In a controversial final minute of Sunday night’s Premier League game, Romero was seen pulling Cucurella’s hair as he looked to pounce on a corner as Spurs looked for a late equaliser. VAR official Mike Dean took a look at the incident and decided it was not a red card offence, nor a foul for Chelsea. Referee Anthony Taylor allowed Spurs to take another corner straight away, which Harry Kane scored to draw Tottenham level at 2-2. The finale left Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel furious with the decision not to penalize Romero and award Chelsea a late free-kick, with the German manager pleading that the goal should not have been allowed to stand. Image: Romero clearly pulled Cucurella’s hair just before Tottenham got the equalizer And because VAR took a look at the decision, Romero will face no further punishment for violent conduct. Retroactive action can only be given when both the match referees and the video referees fail to detect an incident on the field of play in real time and report it in their post-match report. Had referee Taylor spotted the incident in real time, then the correct course would have been a free-kick for Chelsea, leaving Spurs unable to score from that attack. Unlike rugby, football’s laws do not specifically mention hair pulling. The referees have to decide if the hair pulling is strong enough to be considered violent conduct, if it is not then it will likely be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and result in a yellow card.
Tuchel: Taylor should not referee Chelsea games | “Where was the VAR?”
Image: Thomas Tuchel complains to the fourth official after Tottenham’s equalizer at Stamford Bridge
In his post-match press conference, Tuchel felt referee Taylor should no longer be allowed to referee Chelsea games – as he felt both of Tottenham’s goals on Sunday should have been disallowed. In relation to the first goal, Chelsea felt there was a foul on Kai Havertz in the build-up but Taylor disagreed. Referees have been told there is a higher foul limit this season to help the flow of games, but VAR did not look closely because it was not deemed to be in the same attacking phase of the game as Tottenham’s first goal, scored by Pierre -Emile Hojbjerg. A possible interference by Richarlison, who was standing in an offside position when Hojbjerg hit the ball, was considered, but it was decided that his position had no negative impact on goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s position. Asked if Taylor should never manage Chelsea again, the German replied: “Maybe it would be better. “But honestly, we also have VAR to help make the right decisions. Since when can players pull their hair? Since when is that? And if he doesn’t see it, I don’t blame him. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says his row with Antonio Conte was a result of emotions flaring up. “I didn’t see it but we have VAR people who check it and then you see it and then how can that not be a foul and how can that not be a red card? How; “That’s not about the referee in this case. If he doesn’t see something, that’s why we have people to check if there’s a foul.” The FA is expected to investigate Tuchel’s comments about Taylor. Post-match comments in the media or on social media are permitted if they are solely critical of a match referee’s performance or ability. However, if comments suggest bias, offend their integrity, are personally offensive, prolonged or particularly unreasonable, it could result in the FA issuing a charge or formal warning, reminding them of their responsibilities or taking no further action as appropriate the seriousness of the incident or history of the “participant”. Tuchel and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte were involved in two separate incidents – after Tottenham’s first goal and after the match – and the FA will study the referee’s report and match footage before deciding whether to charge and the two coaches. This decision will be made before Wednesday afternoon.
The referee’s verdict
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher gives his special analysis of the key moments in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. Analysis from Sky Sports pundit and former referee Dermot Gallagher: INCIDENT: Should VAR have given Cristian Romero a red card for pulling Mark Cucurella’s hair before Spurs’ equaliser? TODAY: VAR should have intervened – it was a red card and a foul for Chelsea. NERMOTH SAYS: I think VAR should intervene. I’m not sure the referee has seen it, I think he’s looking down, but I think he’s doing it instinctively. I think he’s watching the flight of the ball. It’s looking down, but I think it’s already happened. VAR has the perfect look. As soon as I saw it I said, ‘I think he’s going to get a red card here, he pulled him by the hair’. I expected VAR to send Anthony Taylor to the screen. I know for a fact that if Anthony had been sent to the screen he would have given Chelsea a red card and a foul. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Hoijberg’s equalizer for Tottenham sparks a row between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte. INCIDENT: Tottenham’s 1-1 draw – was Richarlison offside interfering with play? EPHEDERA: Possibly. DERMOTT SAYS: The logic here is that VAR will have been asked to decide if it affects the keeper. You think yes, I think probably, they think no. Their logic is that the ball comes too far, it is too far from the goalkeeper, there was also a goal by Kalidou Koulibaly. With all that factored into the VAR, the goal stood, that’s the logic. I can understand how they came to that decision, I can understand why people would be angry about it. Stephen Warnock: For me, it interferes. It’s close, it’s in (Edouard) Mendy’s eyeline, I think he’s leaning to the left to look around. What I care about is the distance to the target. This is not children’s football, this is the Premier League, the elite league, where players hit the ball with speed. For me Richarlison is active. I know they say it’s not, but it is, it’s on the field. This is the rule that drives me crazy. It is in and around the penalty area and around the goal.
