{"id":292945,"date":"2025-12-01T11:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T11:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/292945\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T11:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T11:52:09","slug":"anthony-taylors-refereeing-record-vs-chelsea-as-arsenal-match-sparks-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/292945\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Taylor&#8217;s refereeing record vs Chelsea as Arsenal match sparks backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea managed to hold onto a 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal despite playing the bulk of the game with 10 men after Moises Caicedo was shown a red card<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2_Chelsea-v-Arsenal.jpg\" alt=\"Moises Caicedo was sent off during Chelsea vs Arsenal\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Moises Caicedo was sent off during Chelsea vs Arsenal(Image: (Photo by Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images))<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/anthony-taylor\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Anthony Taylor<\/a> has booked more Chelsea players than any other club in his refereeing career. The 47-year-old came under heavy criticism online for his handling of the fiery clash between league leaders <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/arsenal-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Arsenal<\/a> and second-placed <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/chelsea-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The game\u2019s key moment arrived in the first half when <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/moises-caicedo\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Moises Caicedo<\/a> was sent off for a challenge on Mikel Merino. Taylor initially showed the midfielder a yellow card, but after a VAR review he upgraded the decision to a straight red.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Taylor has officiated in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Premier League<\/a> since 2010, and across his 15 years in the top flight, Chelsea have the highest bookings-per-game record under him.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/caicedo-red-card-gary-lineker-36331551\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36331551\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gary Lineker wants VAR rule change after Moises Caicedo red card in feisty Arsenal draw<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/carragher-chelsea-arsenal-moises-caicedo-36331513\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36331513\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jamie Carragher accuses &#8216;daft&#8217; Chelsea star of letting comparison gets in his head<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">In the 57 games he has overseen involving Chelsea, Taylor has issued 129 yellow cards, two second-yellow dismissals and two straight red cards. Caicedo is now only the second Chelsea player to receive a direct red from Taylor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Speaking as a pundit on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/sky-sports\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sky Sports<\/a>, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/daniel-sturridge\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daniel Sturridge<\/a> believed the red card was the correct call, though he disagreed with the process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">He said: &#8220;When you see it slowed down, it looks nasty. Initially the referee makes a decision to give him a yellow card. And they&#8217;ve re-reffed it. They&#8217;ve gone with VAR. When you see it slowed down it&#8217;s a red card. It&#8217;s not so bad in full speed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">&#8220;When you look at the challenge slowed down, it makes the referee&#8217;s mind up for him. When you go to the screen and see that slowed down, that&#8217;s a red.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS389345779.jpg\" alt=\"Caicedo was sent off after this challenge was reviewed by VAR\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Caicedo was sent off after this challenge was reviewed by VAR<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Chelsea supporters made their feelings clear on social media, with one fan saying: &#8220;Arsenal had Anthony Taylor on their side today, played against 10 men for 60+ minutes and still couldn&#8217;t beat Chelsea. London will always be blue.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">In total, Taylor handed out six cards in the first half alone &#8211; four yellows to Arsenal, one to Chelsea and Caicedo\u2019s red. Myles Lewis-Skelly was the only player booked after the break.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Fans inside Stamford Bridge also felt Arsenal should have been reduced to 10 men. Piero Hincapie appeared to catch Trevoh Chalobah with a stray elbow to the face.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">One supporter wrote: &#8220;Clear elbow to the face is fine but a badly mistimed tackle isn&#8217;t. Another episode of the Anthony Taylor show,&#8221; while another added: &#8220;Anthony Taylor and yellow\/red cards, a never ending story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">A separate fan pointed out that Arsenal had received the fewest yellow cards in the league heading into the match and questioned why Taylor felt they were so \u201cill-disciplined\u201d in the first 45 minutes. <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/mikel-arteta\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mikel Arteta<\/a>\u2019s side now have the third-lowest total this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to lead the league for red cards with four. Three sides sit joint-second with two each. Enzo Maresca will surely be keen to address this if he hopes to maintain a title push.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">After the 1\u20131 draw, Arsenal\u2019s Premier League lead was cut from six points to five, with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester-city-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Manchester City<\/a> overtaking Chelsea to move into second.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/KLOUWbmSQd86jj7ZbbVOHa\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mirror<\/a> <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Football<\/a> content. 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