RULE CHANGE NEEDED: DANIEL FARKE RILED BY DONNARUMMA'S 'SMART MOVE.'
Leeds boss Farke was 'riled' by Donnarumma's tactical injury pause, which allowed Pep Guardiola to coach. Farke suggests changing football rules.
Farke was disappointed after the loss, and one instance really bothered him. Around the 60-minute mark, City's goalkeeper, Donnarumma, signalled for medical help. During this pause, City's manager, Guardiola, gathered his other ten players to give them new instructions because Leeds had adjusted their formation. Even though Leeds managed to tie the score, City ultimately won. Farke wasn't pleased with Donnarumma's actions. The German coach avoided criticising Guardiola directly but suggested that a rule change might be needed to prevent similar situations.
We all know why he went down, right? It's pretty obvious. If you want my opinion on why he went down, well, it was clear, Farke said. It's within the rules, and it's a smart move. Whether I agree with it in terms of fair play is another matter, and I'll leave it to the officials to figure out a solution. Since it's within the rules, I asked the fourth official if he could do something, but he said his hands were tied. If we don't teach our players about fair play and sportsmanship, and if we try to bend the rules by faking an injury to get an extra team talk, I don't personally like it. But if it's allowed, I can't really complain.
Farke added, I suggest that if this happens, any close call should favour the away team. And if the score is tied 2-2 after 90 minutes, I’d end the game rather than adding extra time. There are ways to stop this. The keeper went down for a reason; an outfield player would have to leave the field. I doubt the authorities will find a solution that promotes fair play. I am not criticising my colleague. It's not that Guardiola himself went down. If there’s time and it’s due to an injury, I would do the same. We have a great relationship, and Pep is the best manager on the planet. He’s great at adjusting tactics during a game; nobody does it better. I’m not criticising Pep at all. Everyone knows these things happen.
DANIEL STURRIDGE: VAR BROKE 'GOLDEN RULE' ON CAICEDO'S RED CARD
Daniel Sturridge claims VAR broke protocol by using slow-motion for Caicedo's red card.
Daniel Sturridge thinks a key VAR rule might have been broken when Moises Caicedo of Chelsea got a red card against Arsenal on Sunday. Caicedo was sent off for a late challenge on Mikel Merino. The ref, Anthony Taylor, first gave a yellow card, but VAR stepped in.
Sturridge, who used to play for Chelsea and Liverpool, kind of criticised how the technology was used, even though he agreed with the final call.
He told Sky Sports, When you watch it in slow motion, it looks bad. The ref first decided on a yellow card. Then they used VAR to look at it again. Watching it slowed down, it looks like a red card. But at full speed, it doesn't seem so bad. Slowing it down makes the ref think it's a red. When you watch the replay in slow motion, it decides for them.
Alan Smith, who was commentating with Sky Sports, said earlier, They're taking a good long look. He came in fast and hard. This could be a turning point in the game. They need to show it at full speed.
He missed the ball, but he came in hard, and they usually worry about a straight leg. He'll be lucky to stay on the field.
The Premier League shared their opinion soon after Caicedo was kicked out. Taylor also explained why he changed the card.
The Premier League Match Centre posted on X: #CHEARS – 34' VAR OVERTURN. After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of a yellow card to Caicedo and issued a red card for serious foul play.
Referee announcement: After review, Chelsea 25 makes a challenge with excessive force and endangers the safety of the opponent; therefore, my final decision is a red card.
Even with only ten players, Chelsea scored first. Trevoh Chalobah headed in a corner from Reece James.
But Mikel Merino quickly tied the score, heading in a cross from Bukayo Saka.
After Caicedo's red card, Chelsea seemed to focus on defending. Piero Hincapie was probably lucky not to get a red card himself after hitting Chalobah with an elbow.
Later, Hincapie fouled Joao Pedro, leading to more appeals, but Taylor didn't give another red card.
However, there were many yellow cards. Myles Lewis Skelly got a booking soon after replacing Riccardo Calafiori, who had already received a yellow card.
LUCAS PAQUETA BLASTS FA: STRESS FROM INVESTIGATION CAUSED RED CARD
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta publicly criticises the FA, claiming his red card vs. Liverpool was due to stress from their long investigation and lack of mental support.
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta is not happy with the FA after getting sent off recently. He feels his actions on the field were a result of the stress from the FA's long investigation into his behaviour.
The Brazilian midfielder was kicked out of the game during West Ham's 2-0 loss to Liverpool after getting two quick yellow cards for arguing.
After facing criticism, Paqueta went to social media to connect his actions to the lack of support he got during his almost two-year legal issue.
Paqueta reacted to a post online with a strong statement on X, where he blamed the FA for not providing mental health support after the betting investigation.
He posted:
It's not right that my life and career have been affected for two years without any help from the federation. Maybe my behaviour is just a result of what I've been going through and what it seems I'll keep going through! I'm sorry if I'm not perfect.
Paqueta had already said sorry to West Ham fans and teammates, admitting his actions didn't justify the dismissal. He also emphasised the huge impact the situation has had on his mental health.
Paqueta's reaction comes from the FA's investigation into alleged betting rule violations, which started in August 2023.
The situation put his career on hold, leading to a failed £70 million transfer to Manchester City.
Though the Regulatory Commission didn't find the spot-fixing charges proven earlier in the year, the midfielder was penalised for not giving all the needed info for the investigation.
This, while clearing him of the main accusations, hasn't reduced the stress from the drawn-out process.
The Liverpool game was another setback for Paqueta, who had just returned from a one-match suspension after getting five yellow cards.
Because of the red card, he'll now miss the game against Manchester United, which is another tough one for West Ham.