Why Chelsea fans booed Moises Caicedo vs Newcastle United after 'thankful' VAR moment

Chelsea made it through to the Carabao Cup semi-final via a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Newcastle United on Tuesday night but they almost had to play almost the entire match with 10 men.

Blues midfielder Moises Caicedo could have been shown a straight red card by referee Jarred Gillett for his reckless challenge on Anthony Gordon just two minutes into the quarter-final tie after the Ecuadorian international dragged his studs down the back of the Magpies winger's leg.

However, he escaped with only a yellow much to the chagrin of the Newcastle bench and Gordon himself who pleaded with the referee for a harsher punishment. The England international was not the only one who believed it should have been more as former Chelsea Women's captain Karen Carney highlighted during the match.

«It’s a red for me,» she claimed at half-time. «I know we have our moans about VAR, but I think he [Caicedo] will be thankful there is no VAR because he would be off for me.

»It doesn’t matter how early in the game it is, he has gone down the back of his calf and made no contact with the ball. The officials are in good vision so I don’t know whether they have missed it or don’t deem it as a red card, but for me if I am Anthony Gordon I am fuming. He’s their best player and he’s probably trying to rough him up but he’s roughed him up too much and he should be off."

Caicedo went on to play the rest of the match, managing to avoid being booked and still having an impact on the Blues midfield with an assured performance which saw him often continue to make well-timed challenges. However, there was one moment which brought him under fire from his own set of supporters rather than the travelling pack of Magpies fans.

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