FA Investigates Thomas Tuchel's Comments Regarding Referee Anthony Taylor's Performance In The Match Against Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (Photo: Instagram @chelseafc)

JAKARTA - The English Football Association (FA) is investigating comments by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel regarding the performance of referee Anthony Taylor in the match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea must bring home one point following the 2-2 draw at home to Spurs in the second week of the 2022/2023 English Premier League at Stamford Bridge, Sunday, August 14 evening WIB.

Tuchel was very angry with Taylor's leadership in that match because he was considered to have issued a decision that was detrimental to the hosts. The German man wanted the referee to no longer be in charge of Chelsea's matches in the future.

"I can assure you that in our dressing room, everyone thinks like that," the former Paris Saint-Germain coach said as quoted by BBC Sport.

Taylor is indeed considered as one of the referees who often harm the Blues. In the match against Spurs, he was even considered to have made two controversial decisions.

Two decisions that actually happened when Spurs scored the equalizer. The first was when Hojbjerg scored.

At that time, Richarlison was judged to be standing in an offside position. In addition, Tuchel considers the Brazilian also blocking the view of Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy.

Then the decision regarding the Rodrigo Bentancur incident, which was deemed to have violated Kai Havertz about 40 seconds before Hojbjerg found Mendy's goal.

Tuchel also highlighted Taylor's action during Harry Kane's goal. Before the goal was created, there were those who judged that a violation had occurred because Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella's hair.

This incident was reviewed again through the video assistant referee (VAR), but was ignored and was not considered a violation.

"Both goals should not have been valid, and it was a fair result because we performed well and deserved to win. This is my point of view," said the 48-year-old coach.

Tuchel's comments will be investigated by the British football parent. The FA will also review video footage of those incidents and look at refereeing match reports before deciding on any allegations.