CHELSEA strolled to a 2-0 win away at 10-man Tottenham in a game shrouded with allegations of racism.
Willian scored twice to ensure Frank Lampard got the upper hand against his old mentor Jose Mourinho.
Willian is dwarfed by his jubilant team-mates after firing Chelsea into the leadCredit: Reuters
Willian showed terrific poise to ping his side into an early leadCredit: AFP
Spurs star Heung-Min Son saw red after VAR adjudged that he had kicked out at Blues defender Antonio Rudiger on the hour mark.
But it was what happened in the aftermath of this that will make all the headlines.
Rudiger alleged that one or more Tottenham fans had racially abused him. He told his captain Cesar Azpilicueta who then told referee Anthony Taylor.
Chelsea keeper Kepa was also pelted with bottles from a fuming home crowd.
The official then headed to the sideline where he spoke with Spurs boss Mourinho and Chelsea manager Lampard.
Antonio Rudiger was seen to claim he had been racially abused by one or more Spurs fansCredit: Sky Sports
The allegations of racism came just moments after this happened – Son kicked out at Rudiger and was sent offCredit: Sky Sports
Referee Anthony Taylor brandished the red card to Heung-Min Son after VAR ruled he had kicked out at Antonio RudigerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Chelsea keeper Kepa was also pelted with bottles as Spurs fans vented their angerCredit: Sky Sports
A stadium announcement later made an announcement saying: “Racist behaviour amongst supporters is interfering with the game.”
And the same message was broadcast to the crowd in the final few minutes of the game.
Spurs were forced a third time at the death to remind their own fans: “Please remember that in football there is no place for racism.”
In terms of the actual game, it was one-way traffic for much of the game.
GAZZANIGA BLUNDER
Willian opened the scoring with a beauty on 12 minutes, receiving the ball from Mateo Kovacic and curling past Paulo Gazzaniga.
The Spurs keeper was then making his own headlines when just before half-time he launched himself at Blues defender Marcos Alonso in the area.
The referee had originally awarded Spurs a free-kick, but VAR overturned that completely and rightly gave the visitors a penalty.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville went so far as to describe it as “an assault” and was flabbergasted why VAR was needed to award it.
Referee could have nipped Rudiger incident in bud
By MARK HALSEY
ANTHONY TAYLOR is in a really poor run of form and he was off the pace again in Chelsea’s win at Tottenham.
There were two big decisions in this London derby, the first-half penalty for Frank Lampard’s side and a red card for Son Heung-min in which Taylor initially called both incorrectly and got bailed out by VAR.
A referee of his calibre on the Uefa elite list should have made the right decision in the first place.
I was amazed he gave Tottenham a free-kick when Paulo Gazzaniga endangered the safety of Marcos Alonso with a serious foul play challenge.
VAR got it spot on by reversing the decision to award a penalty but I felt they should have also advised Taylor that Gazzaniga should have been sent off.
I was also stunned when Taylor missed Son’s act of violent conduct on Antonio Rudiger in the second half.
Son can have no complaints on his red card because the Tottenham striker kicked out but Taylor was looking straight at the incident and it was an easy decision to call.
In recent weeks, Taylor has needed VAR to help for both Marcus Rashford’s penalty in the Manchester derby and a clear spot-kick for Leipzig against Lyon in the Champions League.
Taylor is one of our better referees but I’m sure he will be disappointed with his performances this month.
Gary Neville described Paulo Gazzaniga crashing into Marcos Alonso as ‘an assault’ – and a penalty was awardedCredit: AFP
Up stepped Willian to score his second of the game to put his team firmly in control.
And 15 minutes into the second half, Mourinho was left watching it all fall apart when Son was given his marching orders after aiming a kick at Rudiger while on the floor.
The South Korean appeared angry that he had not been given a foul on him by the defender.
But with his dismissal went any chance of Mourinho’s boys getting anything out of the game.
While a loss will hurt, the wider world of football will be feeling similar pain over the racism allegations.
Speaking after the game, Chelsea captain Azilicueta said: It is made very clear to us all that if we have heard any racist incident to report it.
“Toni [Rudiger] came to me and told me he was listening to racist songs towards him so I reported it to the referee.
“We are very concerned and aware of this behaviour. Altogether we need to make it stop.
“I hope everything gets clear and we eradicate it as soon as possible.
“It‘s an issue not just in football but in life.”
The two old friends, Mourinho and Lampard, embraced at the endCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard then let his emotions out to celebrate with the visiting fansCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
