YOU might think two red cards in Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Tottenham would top the list for drama and controversy.
But once you throw in five disallowed goals and a new string of VAR debates, the fiery Premier League clash went from contentious to chaotic.
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Poor Nicolas Jackson saw his late-hat-trick, as Chelsea’s possession finally paid off, almost overshadowed by other electric incidents.
Here’s how The Sun’s reffing expert and ex-Prem whistler Mark Halsey saw five decisions made by ref Michael Oliver as well as VAR.
SON OFFSIDE GOAL
1 – SON HEUNG-MIN was offside from Brennan Johnson’s cross and VAR made the right decision, just as they did with Eric Dier later.
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UDOGIE OFF
2 – DESTINY UDOGIE would have had no complaints if Michael Oliver had shown a red card or VAR John Brooks recommended a review for a dismissal.
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Udogie’s two-footed lunge at Raheem Sterling fitted the criteria of serious foul play. The Spurs man was lucky to escape with a yellow – before being sent off in the second half anyway…
STERLING’S DISALLOWED GOAL
3 – STERLING scored but he clearly handled in the build-up, so the goal was disallowed.
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Cristian Romero had kicked out and caught Levi Colwill’s leg but it was more petulance rather than violent conduct. VAR made the right call. Romero, like Udogie, would see red soon after…
CAICEDO GOAL WOE
4 – MOISES CAICEDO had a goal chalked off, with Nicolas Jackson ruled offside because he was involved in active play as the ball went through his legs.
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VAR was correct to get involved for Romero’s serious foul play challenge on Enzo Fernandez earlier in the same move.
The Spurs centre-back deserved the red card as he caught Fernandez’s leg with his follow through, leading to Blues’ penalty.
VAR did well because Oliver would not have seen the severity of the challenge in real time.
NO RED FOR REECE
5 – REECE JAMES clashed with Udogie, catching him with his elbow but not enough for further punishment.
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Udogie later saw red for a second booking after a tackle on Sterling.