Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was left furious after what he called a major refereeing mistake in his side’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
The controversy centered on Bayern defender Jonathan Tah’s foul on Joao Pedro in the build-up to Cole Palmer’s goal, which briefly cut the deficit to 2-1. Referee Jose Sanchez showed only a yellow card, but Maresca argued it should have been a straight red.
“For me, that’s a clear red card,” Maresca told reporters. “When there is no attempt to win the ball, only the intention to kick another player, then why is it not a sending-off?” His protests grew heated on the touchline, earning him a booking from Sanchez.
Tah rejected Maresca’s claims, insisting the yellow card was fair. “I can understand the yellow. It was the right decision,” the Bayern defender said, adding that only a strike to the face would have justified a red.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany also defended his player, going further to suggest Pedro had fouled first. “From my perspective, I wanted a foul the other way,” Kompany argued. “Jonathan’s shirt was being pulled, and he was just trying to free himself.”
While the incident dominated post-match debate, Maresca found positives in his team’s display. “I’m happy with the performance overall,” he reflected. “We came here knowing how difficult it would be against a team of Bayern’s quality, but we competed very well and showed good character.”
The clash of views between Maresca, Tah, and Kompany underlined how fine margins shape European nights. For Chelsea’s manager, the decision denied his side a crucial advantage. For Bayern, it was nothing more than part of the game.
