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LONDON. — Premier League referee Robert Jones made history when he refused to send off David Brooks for a “clothesline” challenge on Marc Cucurella.
The incident occurred during last night’s clash between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues took the lead through Cole Palmer before the visitors turned the game on its head for 2-1.
And it took a last-gasp Reece James free-kick to rescue a point for Enzo Maresca’s side, who have now gone five games without a win.
However, Chelsea felt they were hard done by when Cucurella was smashed by Brooks while making a forward run.
Bournemouth’s Welshman appeared to “clothesline” the Spaniard, according to fans online.
And it saw VAR recommend a red card review for violent conduct at the pitchside monitor.
However, referee Jones did not see things the same way.
After watching a replay of the incident, he went against VAR’s recommendation and instead gave Brooks a yellow card. It marked the first time in Premier League history that a referee has rejected a red-card review at the monitor.
It was also the first VAR monitor rejection this season. And the Premier League’s Match Centre explained Jones’ thinking in a social media post.
It read: “VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible red card to Brooks for violent conduct.
“Upon review, the referee deemed that the challenge on Cucurella was a reckless action and not violent conduct — and issue a yellow card to Brooks.”
Fans certainly felt the decision should have been a red card.
One said: “Blatant and deliberate. Red card all day.”
Another declared: “Pure embarrassment.”
One noted: “Blatant red, that’s a wrestling move.”
Another added: “Clotheslines now allowed in football.” — The Sun.
Online Reporter