CHELSEA fans have claimed that Harry Maguire should have been given a red card after catching Michy Batshuayi in the groin with his boot.
And Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher agreed that the Manchester United skipper had to go for kicking out.
Harry Maguire was fortunate to avoid a red for aiming a kick at Chelsea striker Michy BatshuayiCredit: Sky Sports
Despite VAR giving Son Heung-min his marching orders for aiming a kick at Antonio Rudiger back in December, Manchester United skipper Maguire escaped punishment for a similar offence.
The England defender was reacting angrily to a shove in the back from Batshuayi, who was deputising for the injured Tammy Abraham.
As Maguire falls on his back, the 26-year-old swivels his body around before petulantly kicking his right leg out and catching the Belgian in the groin.
Former top Prem referee Mark Halsey told SunSport: “It is a clear red card for violent conduct.
“Son got a three-match ban for less but I would be very surprised if the FA took retrospective action because referee Anthony Taylor and VAR official Chris Kavanagh decided against sending off Maguire.”
In the studio, Carragher said: “It’s a red card. The fact that the Chelsea bench get up and because it is an English manager in Lampard and it is an English player in Maguire, maybe they don’t complain as much as they should do against Maguire.
“That has to go to VAR, but with referees and VAR it is all about consistency and that’s the thing that frustrates you. Harry Maguire is a very lucky boy.”
Keane added: “Very lucky. A lucky boy. I didn’t agree that Son’s was a red card for Tottenham but it went to VAR and got given and with Maguire, maybe it is his personality because he is normally a calm guy that it isn’t given, but he definitely kicks out.
“It’s a red card. Maguire’s personality has probably helped him. Is he a nasty player? Probably not. The argument is all about consistency. If Son was sent off then so should Maguire.”
Despite the challenge being reviewed by VAR, the decision was made that there was no violent conduct and play continued to the outrage of Chelsea fans at home.
Speaking on commentary United legend Gary Neville said: “That first one’s ok, that one (the kick) isn’t! He’s let it go.”
Maguire’s challenge on Batshuayi bore shades of Son Heung-min’s red card challenge against Antonio RudigerCredit: Rex Features
Harry Maguire didn’t think it was a red and said after the game: “I know I caught him and I felt he was going to fall on me and my natural reaction was to straighten my leg to stop him.
“It wasn’t a kick out and there was no intent. I think it’s the right decision.
“I knew I’d caught him but that I had no intent to hurt him. It was just a natural reaction.
“I apologised to him and it was nice that the referee saw sense.”
One tweeted: “How on holy hell is that not a red card.”
Another said: “Red card every day of the week.”
A third added: “How is that not a red? Forces his foot. With studs. Into Batshuayi’s crotch.”
Even former Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas got in the action by tweeting: “Red.”
Frank Lampard was then made more irate later in the first-half as Willian was booked by referee Anthony Taylor for diving.
And to add insult to injury, Anthony Martial headed home United’s opener on the stroke of half-time.
The Frenchman beat Andreas Christensen in the air to guide Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross into the far post out of reach of the despairing Willy Caballero.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
