Enzo Maresca Explodes at Referees Over 'Double Standards' as Arsenal Frustrates Chelsea
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca challenged the uniformity of Premier League officiating following Moisés Caicedo's dismissal against Arsenal, which reminded him of a comparable situation that disadvantaged his team earlier this campaign.
The Blues delivered an exceptionally strong performance in Sunday's 1–1 stalemate with Arsenal and might have secured all three points if not for Caicedo's first-half ejection, who rightfully received a red card after making contact with Mikel Merino's ankle.
Maresca accepted the decision to dismiss Caicedo but questioned how referees could view that tackle as red card-worthy while not penalizing a comparable challenge from Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur, who avoided punishment via VAR after fouling Blues skipper Reece James a month earlier in a 1–0 defeat.
"I mentioned this earlier when asked about Moisés's dismissal. It warranted a red card, but why wasn't Bentancur's challenge on Reece treated the same way during our away match at Spurs?" Maresca questioned. "As managers, we find it difficult to comprehend why they assess situations differently.
"Moisés deserved his red card, absolutely. Bentancur's was also a red card offense, certainly. Why wasn't he sent off? That's what we find confusing. The truth is it was a red card incident. But why do they evaluate it inconsistently?"
Piero Hincapié Fortunate to Avoid Red Card
During the second half's opening moments, Chelsea expressed annoyance with referee Anthony Taylor's choice not to send off Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié, who was already cautioned when he struck Blues defender Trevoh Chalobah in the face.
Although Hincapié's elbow seemed unintentional, it resulted in Chalobah suffering a bruised eye and noticeable swelling, leaving Maresca dissatisfied that the Ecuadorian wasn't shown at least a second booking.
"I questioned the referee, and he told me it wasn't an elbow," Maresca disclosed. "That's what they claimed.
"[Chalobah suffered a] bruised eye, requiring ice treatment at the break. Yet they judge these incidents inconsistently."
James: Chelsea Could Have Beaten Arsenal
Even with the player deficit, Chelsea maintained their strength throughout. Chalobah's opener provided the Blues with a well-earned advantage that was quickly equalized by a Merino header, yet Maresca's squad registered more attempts on target and appeared equally capable of securing victory against their table-topping rivals.
"I feel pride," James shared with club media. "Our squad is incredibly young, yet we matched the current Premier League leaders stride for stride.
"We displayed no intimidation and attempted to emerge victorious. Regrettably we couldn't achieve that, but numerous positives emerged from the match. We anticipated a challenging encounter, but honestly it felt like a game we might have claimed. It's frustrating to leave with just one point given our excellent display.
"We competed for 60 minutes a player down, managing against all their talent—they're an exceptional side, currently leading the league. We matched their intensity, so there's plenty of encouragement to draw from this.
"We began energetically, creating several early opportunities, but the match became more challenging after the dismissal. We adjusted tactically and they pressed forward frequently, yet we believed we possessed the personnel and skill to threaten them when in possession. We gave our maximum effort, now we must accept the point and progress."