David Moyes slams decision to send off West Ham’s Fabian Balbuena against Chelsea

David Moyes has slammed the decision to send off Fabian Balbuena in West Ham’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

The defender was shown a red card after VAR checked for serious foul play and told referee Chris Kavanagh to check the monitor, despite the fact Balbuena only caught Chilwell in his follow through after clearing the ball.

The Hammers boss was stunned when the red card was shown, and believed it showed a lack of knowledge from those making the decisions.

David Moyes criticised those responsible for making the decision to send off Fabian Balbuena

The West Ham defender was punished for catching Ben Chilwell after clearing the ball

‘I think it’s a decision made by someone who’s never played the game before,’ Moyes told Sky Sports.

‘Where is Balbuena meant to plant his foot? If they do think that’s a red card, the same one a few minutes later between Coufal and Rudiger is a very similar challenge. They didn’t do anything about it. 

‘You have somebody who doesn’t know the game. He kicks through the ball, and not for one minutes is there a bit of malice in that. It’s a rubbish decision.’

When asked if the club would look to appeal, Moyes said: ‘You get no decisions from the Premier League. For me, the big thing is it’s just a really rank, rotten decision and it shouldn’t have been given.

‘I just think it was a really poor decision. I don’t know who stopped the game. I thought it was supposed to be clear and obvious. I don’t see that there was a clear and obvious reason for the referee to look at it. But it tells me that’s it’s someone who has never played the game who’s made the decision and looked at it because the player’s cleared it and he’s planted his foot.

‘Obviously we don’t want to it to be planted in another player’s leg but I don’t see anywhere else where he can put his foot.’ 

Balbuena cleared the ball up the pitch but slow-motion replays made the incident look worse

Chris Kavanagh checked the monitor to watch replays and decided a red card was necessary

Moyes believes the problems are deep rooted and he has called upon referees to make a stand and begin to trust their own instincts, rather than seek assistance.

‘I just think we’ve seen another ridiculous weekend of decisions,’ he added. ‘We don’t know who to speak to now because they don’t make the decisions. I don’t see how they can make that a red card, I really don’t.

‘I actually think the referees in this country are very good and I feel as if the referees are not refereeing as they should be and that can only be coming from the top.

‘I can understand for maybe the referee to be making a mistake but for somebody to be looking at it from a screen and consider that a red card, I find that incredible.’

Former West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon echoed the views of Moyes, and insisted the red card stopped the home side from having any chance of getting something from the match. 

‘It’s not even a yellow for me and this kills the game totally for West Ham,’ Gabbidon said.

‘They started the second half as the better team. They had a bit of charge but this killed the game. Balbuena, he clears the ball up field – what’s he meant to do? 

Gianfranco Zola managed Hammers for two years and echoed the views of current boss Moyes

‘Yes his studs are showing but there can be contact and it not be a foul. And straight away I thought as soon as the referee sees it in slo mo, he gives the red card and that’s what he did. 

‘We talk about VAR and getting ex-players involved and there are certain incidents that happen that only players can understand. 

‘I’m totally with David Moyes, it’s a poor decision. The game was over after the sending off.

‘For me he’s clearing the ball up the line. His natural momentum is swing through, what’s he meant to do? Point his foot in a different direction? It’s the momentum of two players coming together.’ 

Gianfranco Zola, who played for Chelsea for seven years and managed West Ham at the start of his coaching career, was also in agreement.

‘You cannot believe that,’ Zola said. ”You can understand if the referee makes a mistake because he doesn’t see it but VAR should benefit him and should show it’s not an intentional foul. West Ham didn’t deserve that.

It was not just those covering the game that were angered by the decision and questioned the impact VAR is having.

Gary Lineker and Ian Wright were among those to take to Twitter to voice their discontent and shock that a red card had been given. 

Lineker tweeted: ‘Oh FFS, that is not a red card. He’s just clearing the ball. Ridiculous.’ 

Wright posted: ‘Sent off for kicking the ball’ and added a string of crying laughter emojis. 

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend also took to Twitter to vent his rage at the latest VAR controversy.

‘I can’t believe it….. I’ve just witnessed a man get sent off by clearing the ball…. this has to stop….. THE GAMES GONE,’ Townsend tweeted.

Oliver Holt added: ‘Balbuena sent off at West Ham after referee consults replays. I don’t get this one. 

‘Balbuena clears the ball and his follow through means his foot connects with Chilwell’s calf. Effectively been sent off for kicking the ball. Which is a new one, even this season.’ 

‘VAR just got a player sent off for kicking a football,’ Piers Morgan posted.

Lee Dixon commented: Here I go again. If that’s a red then ‘the game has gone.’ Oh my. It’s beyond a joke. Where is Balbuena suppose to put his leg? In his pocket? Levitate? Somebody please tell me.’

 Rio Ferdinand went even further and called for VAR to be removed as a result of yet more controversy, with fans also critical of the decisions made in Liverpool’s draw with Newcastle earlier in the day.

‘Var needs to be put in the bin now,’ Ferdinand tweeted. ‘We’ve tried it and it’s s***. Get rid. Its slowing the game down & sucking the emotion out of the game.’