How is it not DANGEROUS? Maresca says Bournemouth man should have seen red for pulling Cucurella’s hair | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca criticised the decision not to send off David Brooks in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

Brooks was booked by the referee after pulling Cucurella’s hair to stop a break away, with the referee deciding not to send him off despite going over to the pitch-side monitor to check the incident.

Earlier this season, Southampton defender Jack Stephens was sent off for a similar incident where he also pulled Cucurella’s hair.

And Maresca was left confused as to why Brooks did not receive the same punishment.

He said: “I said already many times. To be honest, for me, when there is not an intention to take the ball, it’s a red.

“They have to explain. If they give a yellow, that means there is something that happened.

“So how can they judge that it was not dangerous? You cannot judge that it is not dangerous. The intention is just to go against Marc Cucurella so in my opinion it’s a red.

“Hopefully we can be more lucky with the referee in the future.”

Explaining the decision, the Premier League Match Centre said on X: VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible red card to Brooks for violent conduct. Upon review, the referee deemed that the challenge on Cucurella was a reckless action and not violent conduct – and issued a yellow card to Brooks.”

Chelsea are now winless in five Premier League games following their draw with Bournemouth.

Cole Palmer put Maresca’s side ahead with a well-taken finish when one-on-one with goalkeeper Mark Travers but Justin Kluivert equalised from the penalty spot following a foul on Antoine Semenyo by Moises Caicedo.

Semenyo then added a second for Bournemouth but captain Reece James, who has just returned from another injury, stepped up in added time to curl a brilliant free-kick into the bottom corner and rescue a point for Chelsea.

Maresca says he must find a solution to his side “dropping” in games, however.

“It was probably one of our best first halves of the season, the way we were playing on the ball, off the ball, creating so many chances,” he said.

“The first half has to finish with a different score. At least 2-0 was what we deserved.

“Then second half, after the penalty, the game completely changed. We dropped a little bit, probably we need to understand the reason why.

“The feeling is a little bit like it’s a shame because when you play in the way you played in the first half, it was really, really good, you have to be clinical.”