Chelsea star Thiago Silva was fortunate to avoid a red card, at least in the eyes of some fans, as the Blues took on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The west London side made a slow start in their first Premier League game under new manager Graham Potter. Odsonne Edouard gave Palace an early lead in the derby, and things could have got even worse when Silva stuck out an arm to prevent Jordan Ayew running towards the Chelsea goal.
Referee Chris Kavanagh showed a yellow card to the Brazil international with the original decision upheld after a VAR check to determine whether Silva had denied Palace a clear goalscoring opportunity. Palace fans clearly weren't happy with the call, and things got even worse for Patrick Vieira's side when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised for Potter's team and former Palace loanee Conor Gallagher won the game for Chelsea late on
"The refs are just not good enough aren't they," one Twitter user said in response to the decision. "Can someone explain to me how Thiago Silva wasn't sent off?" asked another.
Some opted to lay out exactly why they believed a yellow was insufficient. "Thiago Silva should’ve been sent off… intentional handball & was the last man. Denies a goal scoring opportunity," was the verdict from one football fan.
Even some Chelsea supporters felt it should have been a red. "We got away with one there. I’ll take it though," was the reaction from one, while the only complaint from others was that they felt Silva had been fouled in the lead-up to the offence.
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Palace manager Vieira also made his feelings clear about the decision from the referee, while a number of Palace players protested after the yellow card was shown to the Chelsea man. The cries were ignored, though, with referee Kavanagh sticking to his original decision.
Eagles chairman Steve Parish was also fuming with the decision," Parish continued. "Honestly what is the point of VAR?" he asked. "We chop and change every week what it does what it thinks."
"VAR must surely think that’s a red but not a ‘clear’ error! Even if it’s not a #dogso [Denial of goalscoring opportunity] which it is. He handballs it twice deliberately, one we play on so two yellows."
Not only did Silva escape a red card, but he was involved in the visitors' equaliser. It was the former Paris Saint-Germain player who set up Aubameyang, winning a header on the edge of the Palace box and allowing the new signing to volley home.
It was the Gabon international's first goal since joining Chelsea from Barcelona, though he wouldn't add to that tally as he made way for Armando Broja 15 minutes from time. Aubameyang has started all three games since his move from Camp Nou, though he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for his new club.
Had Silva been shown red, it would have been the third sending off for the Blues in the 2022-23 season. Kalidou Koulibaly was dismissed for a second booking towards the end of a defeat at Leeds United, while Conor Gallagher was shown two yellows in the first half of the Blues' victory over Leicester City back in August.
Then, to rub salt into the wound, Gallagher broke Palace hearts by coming off the bench to fire home a last-gasp winner. It was a first Chelsea goal for the England international, who scored eight while on loan at Selhurst Park last term.
