Chelsea fans are fuming at 'Mic'd Up' show as PGMOL release audio of Malo Gusto red card

PGMOL chief Howard Webb addressed Chelsea defender Malo Gusto's sending off against Aston Villa on the 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' show - and Blues fans are not happy.

The show, broadcast on TNT Sports and Sky Sports, sees Webb analyse and explain refereeing decisions, and was shown on Tuesday evening.

Among the decisions covered by Webb, in discussion with presenter Michael Owen, included Liverpool winger Luis Diaz being adjudged to be offside against Tottenham, and a handball offence committed by Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes against Luton.

But Webb also looked at an incident involving Blues right-back Gusto.

During Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Villa on September 24, referee Jarred Gillett initially booked the France defender for a foul on Lucas Digne.

But VAR intervened and recommended that Gillett's decision was overturned, with a red card subsequently being shown instead.

The decision had major ramifications for Chelsea, with Gusto missing three games in the absence of the Blues' only other senior right-back, Reece James, through injury.

VAR audio from the incident shows how the VAR official initially deliberated over the decision, before recommending that Gillett head over to the monitor - citing a 'buckling ankle' and the fact that Gusto had temporarily left the ground.

Gillett, however, initially believed that there was no foul, with the assistant VAR recommending that he book the player on the field.

Some fans argued the challenge looked similar to the one Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic committed on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard on Sunday.

Webb, meanwhile, explained why Kovacic wasn't sent off: "The contact is a little bit more to the side with an upright foot as opposed to a side-on foot, that we saw with Gusto."

Taking to X (Twitter) to react to the audio and Webb's comments, Chelsea fans said the same thing.

One said: "They were asleep in the Kovacic challenge I guess."

Another agreed: "Yeah, they should bring in Kova too."

A third simply stated: "This is ridiculous."

Other fans, meanwhile, once again questioned the decision after hearing the audio.

One wrote: "Not one of them mentioned that Gusto got the ball first before catching the ankle. Beyond madness."

Another said: "Still baffled why this was even yellow. Played the centre of the ball while it was on the ground."

A third added: "First time I've seen the challenge tonight... wins the ball, great tackle for me. I don't understand how referees and lawmakers expect players to slide for a ball and not follow through, physics doesn't allow it."

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