VAR farce as Hakim Ziyech is sent off but then Stuart Attwell rescinds it after watching incident

Hakim Ziyech was shown a red card and then had it rescinded in a bizarre turn of events in Spurs' clash with Chelsea.

The clash was predictably spicy and there were fireworks as the half drew to a close when Ziyech brought down Richarlison cynically.

The two briefly squared up and Richarlison's teammate and compatriot came rushing over and bumped into Ziyech.

The Morocco international was furious and retaliated by shoving the former Barcelona defender, appearing to catch him in the face.

Royal was shown a yellow card, while so too was Kai Havertz for his initial tackle on Ziyech. On Ziyech's action, referee Stuart Attwell was in discussions with assistant Darren Cann and VAR official Paul Tierney, resulting in a red card for the ex Ajax man.

However, just as Ziyech was preparing to walk down the tunnel, Attwell then looked at the incident on the monitor and downgraded the card to yellow - seemingly deciding it was not an act of violent conduct.

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Should Hakim Ziyech still be on the pitch? 😧👇 pic.twitter.com/99X1cj3MDv

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2023

Another angle provided a much better view of the incident but it was a huge talking point at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

One fan fumed: "In awe at how bad that is from Stuart Attwell the referee & Paul Tierney the VAR official. Give a red card without seeing the incident, THEN watch it the replay? All while strolling around taking 5 mins to do it while 85k people wait with no clue."

A second said: 'Stuart Attwell's had a mare in this first half. Why not go and look at the monitor first before showing a red card. Our officials are the worst in World football, totally incompetent and VAR is a shambles with these fools running it."

Another added: "What on earth is that about? Stuart Attwell waits, VAR tell him he shoves Emerson in the face, he sends him off only for him to then be told to go to the monitor. Goes to the monitor and then changes his mind about the red. What is happening to football?"

A fourth supporter fumed: "We have some of the most incompetent officials in World Football, and Stuart Attwell is at the top of that list. Awful ref, only being found out now by VAR week in, week out."

A fifth opined: "So Ziyech was about to be booked for the initial tackle before it all kicked off, then was given a red for the ‘push’ only for it to be overturned? Surely at the very least it’s a yellow for the foul and a yellow for the altercation. Still a red all day long."

Spurs went 1-0 up immediately after half-time courtesy of a stunning strike from Oliver Skipp, who opened his account in style.