Hakim Ziyech: Morocco forward has red card overturned in VAR drama in Tottenham's win over Chelsea
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ByEurosport
Published 26/02/2023 at 15:40 GMT
In the first half of Tottenham's 2-0 win over Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech was sent off by referee Stuart Attwell after being instructed to dismiss the player by VAR. However, with Ziyech walking off the pitch, the referee and the VAR officials decided to do another VAR check. After reviewing Ziyech's confrontation with Emerson Royal, Attwell decided to reverse Ziyech's red and was issued a yellow.
English referee Stuart Attwell (L) shows a red card to Chelsea's Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (R), later rescinded during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on Februa
Image credit: Getty Images
Hakim Ziyech saw a red card controversially overturned by referee Stuart Attwell at the end of the first half of Tottenham's 2-0 win against Chelsea.
Ziyech brought down Richarlison with a poor tackle. The Brazilian reacted before both teams engaged in a tussle on the putch.
Ziyech looked to have avoided any punishment with referee Attwell showing yellow cards to Chelsea's Kai Havertz and Tottenham's Emerson Royal after consulting his assistant Darren Cann on the touchline.
However, after hearing from VAR official Paul Tierney in his earpiece the referee showed a straight red to Ziyech, who put his hand in the face of Royal which Attwell appeared to miss.
Ziyech walked to the touchline dejected before stopping when a VAR check message on the big screen appeared and Attwell went to the monitor.
After a short delay with replays of the fracas under VAR review again, the decision was made to rescind the Morocco international's red card in favour of a yellow.
“Well done to the referee, I think it's the right decision," former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said at half-time to Sky Sports.
"He wanted to push him away in the shoulder and then slipped to his face. Common sense from the referee. But on the other hand, a very lucky decision.”
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith said: "He has already made the decision so why has he gone to the monitor?
"And now he has withdrawn it so I think it is the right decision in the end."
A fine strike from Oliver Skipp and a late second from Harry Kane saw fourth-placed Tottenham overcome Chelsea who are remain in 10th.
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