Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has called for VAR to have the authority to intervene in yellow card decisions after Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes narrowly avoided a red card during Sunday’s 1-1 draw. The incident occurred early in the second half when Hughes, already on a yellow card, fouled Cole Palmer on the edge of the box. Referee Jarred Gillett’s decision not to issue a second yellow card left Maresca incensed.
Adding to Chelsea’s frustration, Crystal Palace quickly capitalized on the reprieve. Just minutes after the controversial incident, Eberechi Eze scored a stunning equalizer from 20 yards out, leveling the match and leaving Chelsea’s earlier lead through Nicolas Jackson’s first-half goal in jeopardy. Maresca didn’t hold back when asked if VAR should be allowed to overturn missed yellow card decisions, responding with a firm “I think so.”
Maresca argued that the match would have taken a different turn had Hughes been sent off, emphasizing that Palace’s immediate substitution of Hughes was a clear acknowledgment of the risk. “If they had been with 10, I think the game would have completely changed,” Maresca said, highlighting the frustration with the referee’s judgment. “It was clear for all of us it was a second yellow card. The only one that thinks in a different way is the referee.”
Chelsea seemed poised to secure victory after Jackson’s goal, which came from a well-executed counter-attack. However, despite creating several chances, they were unable to secure the three points. Jackson himself came close in stoppage time, but Palace keeper Dean Henderson denied him twice, ensuring the match ended in a draw.
Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer and is overseeing an expensive rebuild, has had a mixed start to his tenure, with Chelsea winning just one of their three league games under his management. Despite the disappointing result, Maresca remained positive about the performance. “We completely deserved to win the game,” he said. “We controlled the game, we didn’t concede chances in the first half. Second half, their goal was fantastic, but overall we deserved to win.”
Chelsea’s latest addition, Jadon Sancho, was introduced to fans before the match but did not feature as his signing was completed too late for him to be eligible. Maresca expressed his excitement about the new signing, particularly for matches like the one against Palace where Chelsea struggled to break down a resolute defense. “Jadon is here because we like that kind of player in the last third against a low block, like today,” Maresca said. However, despite the frustration of dropping points, Maresca emphasized that his team had created plenty of opportunities and did nearly everything right in their pursuit of victory.
As Chelsea continue to adapt under Maresca’s leadership, the focus will remain on fine-tuning their performance to convert dominant displays into consistent wins. The debate over VAR’s role in managing yellow card decisions, however, is likely to continue after this latest controversy.