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Chelsea Star 'Likes' Petition Asking For Anthony Taylor To Be Banned

Chelsea Star 'Likes' Petition Asking For Anthony Taylor To Be Banned

Nearly 50,000 signed the petition after Anthony Taylor sent Chelsea's Reece James off for handball against Liverpool at Anfield.

Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso has liked a petition calling for referee Anthony Taylor to be banned from officiating.

Taylor was the man in the middle for Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and controversially sent off Reece James at the end of the first-half.

James blocked Sadio Mane's shot on the line with his arm and though the offence wasn't penalised initially, Taylor went to the VAR screen and decided the right-back had to be dismissed.

Mo Salah equalised from the spot and the spoils were shared on Merseyside.

But Chelsea fans were furious with the decision and incredibly, nearly 70,000 fans have signed a petition requesting that Taylor no long referees as they feel he has a "strong agenda" against them.

"It is evident that this man has a strong agenda against the institution that is Chelsea FC," the petition's description reads. "For example, he has sent off players for no reason and jeopardised our results.

"We strongly believe this should be investigated and Anthony should be banned from officiating Chelsea games."

Alonso, who played in the draw, liked a post from a fan account reporting on the petition - making it pretty clear that he was not best pleased with the call.

Image: Chelsea Pulse
Image: Chelsea Pulse

Manager Thomas Tuchel felt that the VAR check was too quick, going off one image - and in his view that meant Taylor did not give the correct decision.

"I don’t know anymore what happens and what does not happen. We were just a bit worried that he was just looking at a photo and the photo gives a clear image that it’s a red card and a penalty," Tuchel told Sky Sports after the game.

"For me it was too quick, I would have wished for a longer check and to see the whole situation, where it gets deflected.

"I can remember referees explaining to us, if it’s a deflection and it’s not a very unnatural arm position, then it’s not a penalty."


Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Liverpool, Reece James