Riccardo Calafiori Breaks Silence on Controversial Leandro Trossard Red Card
Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori has finally spoken out about the controversial red card given to his teammate Leandro Trossard in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. The Belgian international was sent off on the stroke of half-time for kicking the ball away after referee Michael Oliver had blown for a foul.
Calafiori, who scored a stunning left-footed goal to level the scores at 1-1, believes that Trossard didn’t even hear the whistle before kicking the ball away. "I don’t want to say too much, but the referees have to do their job to keep the game good to watch. But with these kinds of actions, they don’t have to put themselves too much," he said.
The sending off of Trossard had a significant impact on the game, with Arsenal forced to play the second half with 10 men. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to hold on for a win, with John Stones scoring a 98th-minute equaliser to earn Manchester City a point.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left frustrated by the decision, saying: "It has already happened twice in five games [the red card situation], which is very worrying to see in the best league. It is very, very hard to play with 11 players. With 10, it is impossible. With 10, you need to defend your six-yard box time and time again."
The incident has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, with many questioning the severity of the punishment. However, Calafiori believes that the referee had no choice but to give Trossard his marching orders. "You have to do your job, not more," he said.
The controversy has once again highlighted the importance of refereeing decisions in the Premier League. With the introduction of VAR, the onus is on officials to make accurate calls, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.
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