Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has claimed that Chelsea must seek advice from professional officials on what is ‘acceptable when challenging for the ball’ after the Blues saw yet another player dismissed against Arsenal on Sunday.
Brazilian defender David Luiz was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Gunners wing-back Saed Kolasinac late on in their 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, becoming the fifth Chelsea player to be sent off since the two sides met in last season’s FA Cup Final.
In his Daily Telegraph column, Hackett wrote: “After having five players sent off in their last eight matches, Chelsea need to get someone in from the Professional Games Match Officials Limited or even David Elleray, the International Football Association Board’s technical director, to talk to the manager and the players over what is and is not acceptable when challenging for the ball.”
Since Victor Moses was given his marching orders for a dive in May’s FA Cup Final, Antonio Conte has seen Pedro sent to the stands against Arsene Wenger’s side in the Community Shield whilst, in the Premier League, both Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas were dismissed in their season opener against Burnley.
In Pictures | Chelsea vs Arsenal | 17/09/2017
Whilst Conte has bemoaned their ‘strange’ record and says that he hopes for more luck in the future regarding decisions towards his side, Hackett has removed all blame from the officials.
“Those five red cards are not the fault of referees,” he added.
“It is down to the failure of players to recognise what is acceptable in the game of football.
“David Luiz’s sending off was, like last week’s red card for Liverpool’s Sadio Mané, a reminder to players that they have a duty of care to opponents.
“A player cannot use the fact he is going for ball as an excuse. If you lunge in with one or two feet you are out of control, recklessly endangering an opponent and should receive a red card.”
