'It's a shame': Former Premier League star calls for big change to VAR after 'bad' Rico Lewis red card

A big change to the VAR rules was requested after Manchester City saw Rico Lewis sent off against Crystal Palace.

The England international had scored a vital equalizing goal for the reigning Premier League champions in their 2-2 draw against the Eagles.

However, his joy quickly turned to frustration when he received a second yellow card for a tackle on Trevoh Chalobah.

Lewis came in hard on the tackle and the contact actually appeared to be from Chalobah towards the versatile Manchester City star as they collided with the ball moved by the former Chelsea star.

However, former Premier League players Jason Cundy, Scott Minto and Jamie O'Hara Everyone felt the decision was tough on Lewis.

And the referee's decision led former Chelsea star Cundy to call for a big change to VAR to improve the game.

He told talkSPORT: “The Rico Lewis Second yellow card, I'm not going to allow it mate. Well. I'm not going to accept it.

“I'll tell you what, if football really wants to move forward on the path of improving VAR – this has bothered me for a while – a second yellow card for a red, why can't it be seen by VAR?

“It's an absolute mystery.”

O'Hara replied: “Well, you know what I think about VAR, Jason, I want it in the bin, but I don't think it's going to happen.”

Cundy responded: “No, no, VAR is here to stay, right? It's here to stay, right? But do better. VAR is… Look, it's not brilliant, it's not perfect, but it's in the game and it will remain. Second yellow cards for red must be examined by the VAR.

“I don't understand how you can look at a direct red and yet you can't see a second yellow for a red. I don't understand that.

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“Improve the game. If VAR is here to stay, of course, and it is, improve the game, make it better, make it work. Because for me, that second yellow is not a second yellow.”

He later added: “The law is bullshit.

“I don't fully understand what the difference would be in terms of what the decision is for that game. There's nothing to choose between the two. A second yellow changes the game, a straight red changes the game, right?

“So you can review a straight red, we've seen that happen. There was a second yellow a couple of weeks ago, I don't remember which one it was, it was tough. But since you can't review it, you have to go with the decision on the field.

“Rico Lewis' yellow card today is an absolute disgrace. An absolute disgrace. There is no way on this earth that it was even a foul, let alone a second yellow card, right?”

“Rob Jones gives it as a second yellow, okay, he makes mistakes. You can see why he's giving it, right?

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“When Chalobah wins the ball and then steps on Rico Lewis's foot. If you're going to make any decision, you give it to Palace.

“The truth is that it is not a decision. It is a non-decision for me.
The referee has seen Chalobah fall, but it is irrelevant anyway.

“It's so bad. It's such a bad decision. And then you find yourself in a position where for the last 20 minutes of the game, Man City were down to 10 men, but now they don't have Rico Lewis to pick from, right? ” ?

“It's the second yellow card, so he misses the next game. That, to me, makes the law an idiot.

“Change it.”

He added: “I'm not sure we can blame the Premier League. I think the IFAB needs to look at that. That's the governing body.”

Meanwhile, Minto, who watched the game for talkSPORT, added: “I don't understand it.

“Someone is being sent off. A team is left with 10 men. So why shouldn't we be doubly sure? Although with VAR we are never even doubly sure.

“I think if I looked at it again, it's one of those where, by the letter of the law, if you really wanted to, you could argue that it was offside. “He didn't get the ball and therefore it's a yellow card.

“But I think anyone who watches football regularly will say, come on, come on, that's tough. You don't have to make that particular decision.”

After the match, the Manchester City manager pep guardiola He was asked about the challenge.

However, he simply turned the question around and replied, “Have you seen it?

“I didn't see it, you can tell me, I didn't see it yet.”

When the journalist admitted that he and others had felt it had been harsh, Guardiola said: “It is what it is,” before quickly leaving before talkSPORT could ask him about the game.