Maresca Questions Refereeing Decisions After Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has publicly criticized match officials following his team’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Arsenal in the United States. The Italian coach specifically questioned the consistency of decision-making after a contentious first-half incident.

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The friendly match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia ended in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring in the 81st minute, with Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard equalizing in the 86th minute.

During the first half, Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella received a yellow card for a challenge on Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson. Enzo Maresca stated after the match that he believed the challenge warranted a red card and compared it to a similar incident from a previous game.

Maresca referenced a tackle by Manchester City’s John Stones on Pedro Neto in last season’s Community Shield, for which Stones was sent off. He expressed confusion over why the two challenges were judged differently by officials.

The match also included a disallowed goal for Arsenal in the second half. A goal from Kai Havertz was ruled out for a narrow offside following a VAR review, which is being used in the pre-season tournament.

Summary

The pre-season friendly between Chelsea and Arsenal concluded with a 1-1 draw after late goals from both sides. Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, used his post-match comments to criticize the officiating.

Maresca focused on a first-half yellow card shown to his player, Marc Cucurella. He stated his belief that the challenge was a red-card offense and directly compared it to a previous sending-off in a similar fixture.

The manager questioned the lack of consistent application of the rules between the two incidents. The match itself also featured a disallowed Arsenal goal for offside after a VAR check.

These pre-season fixtures are being used by teams for fitness and tactical preparation ahead of the new competitive season.

FAQs

**Why was Enzo Maresca criticizing the referees?**
Enzo Maresca criticized the officials because he believed a yellow card shown to his player, Marc Cucurella, should have been a red card. He compared the challenge to one from a previous match that resulted in a sending-off.

What was the controversial incident he referenced?
Maresca referenced a tackle by Manchester City’s John Stones on Wolverhampton’s Pedro Neto in last season’s Community Shield. Stones was shown a red card for that challenge, while Cucurella received only a yellow for a similar action.

Was VAR used in this pre-season match?
Yes, Video Assistant Referee technology was used during the match. It was used to disallow a second-half goal by Arsenal’s Kai Havertz for a narrow offside.

Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All information is based on verified reporting available at the time of publication.