‘A bit scary’: Harry Redknapp baffled by what unfolded during West Ham-Chelsea clash

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Harry Redknapp told Stadium Astro that the VAR told the on-field referee to send off Fabian Balbuena during a controversial ending of West Ham’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday evening.

With West Ham chasing the game with ten minutes left on the clock, Balbuena, after VAR had intervened, was sent off for a seemingly dangerous tackle on Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell.

There was no follow-through from Balbuena, who didn’t alter his initial actions, and in truth, had nowhere to put his foot when trying to clear the ball.

Redknapp was baffled by what unfolded at the London Stadium and stated that it’s ‘scary’ how every little detail of the game is now being looked at

“He’s not sent him off the referee,” said Redknapp. “Who was it Moss, who was the VAR tonight? (Peter Bankes was the VAR). He has looked at it and said to him ‘I think you better have another look at this, it could be a red’.

“He has done, more or less, what he has been told by the VAR. And he has given him a red.

On Balbuena given a red but similar Coufal incident was dealt with differently: “Defenders do that. That’s an art. They do play the ball and leave one on you as they kick through you.

“There wasn’t much between the two incidents. One wasn’t even a yellow and the other one was a red card – It has become a bit scary. Everything is scrutinised – you cannot celebrate anything, at the moment, and it’s the same with decisions like that.”

Whilst West Ham were losing the contest before the red card, and they didn’t really create enough chances to get anything from the game, it did kill their energy in the last ten minutes.

The Hammers have shown throughout this season that they have a quality to fight till the end, especially against London opposition, and with one goal in it, anything could have happened with 11 men.

But David Moyes and his players, who have had an outstanding season, will be licking their wounds because they have been dealt a blow in the race to finish in the Champions League places.