Jamie Carragher believes the build-up comparing Moises Caicedo to Declan Rice played a part in Chelsea midfielder Caicedo’s red card during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Caicedo was initially booked by referee Anthony Taylor for a challenge on Mikel Merino, but after a VAR review the decision was upgraded to a red for ‘excessive force’ — the first sending-off of his Chelsea career.
Carragher, speaking on Super Sunday: Extra Time, said Caicedo started the match unusually fired-up and may have been affected by the Rice-versus-Caicedo narrative. He noted Caicedo was very energetic from the off and had been lucky not to receive an earlier booking for a shoulder charge on Jurrien Timber. Carragher praised Caicedo’s ball-winning qualities but warned he can come in at awkward angles and sometimes looks clumsy when committing to tackles.
Merino, who suffered the challenge, said he immediately felt it was a sending off: he told Sky Sports he felt his ankle ‘go all the way’ but was relieved by his mobility. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also backed the decision, saying he saw the reaction and agreed with Taylor’s call.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca conceded the red card was deserved but used the incident to question officiating consistency. Maresca argued that Piero Hincapie should also have been sent off for an elbow on Trevoh Chalobah in the second half, and compared Caicedo’s dismissal to a recent tackle by Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur on Reece James that, he said, went unpunished with a red. Captain Reece James likewise suggested there ought to have been another red card for Arsenal.
Maresca said he asked referee Taylor about keeping Hincapie on the field but was told the contact was not an elbow. Sky Sports commentators said VAR officials judged Hincapie’s eyes were on the ball, which influenced their decision to issue a booking rather than a red. Match images later showed Chalobah with swelling around the eye.
Sky Sports plans to examine both the Hincapie and Caicedo incidents further on Ref Watch. Carragher’s main point was that the pre-match hype and comparisons may have amped Caicedo up too much, contributing to an avoidable, career-first red card in a high-stakes fixture.