Andre Marriner enshrined himself into the referees’ hall of shame on Saturday.
In the 17th minute of Saturday’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Arsenal, Marriner mistakenly sent off Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs for an infraction his teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain committed.
Chelsea winger Eden Hazard initially beat Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with a curling shot, but Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped it wide of the goal with his hand.
Shockingly, Marriner showed Gibbs a red card, despite Oxlade-Chamberlain’s protests that he had committed the hand-ball on the goal line.
An incredulous Gibbs walked off the field, and Hazard dispatched the ensuing penalty kick to make it 3-0. Chelsea continued to batter 10-man Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues won the game 6-0.
Marriner hasn’t spoken publicly about his mistake, but England’s Football Association said Arsenal can appeal the red card on the grounds of mistaken identity.
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The Gunners are likely to lodge an appeal, as Gibbs would face a three-game ban if they don’t.
While Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain bear a passing resemblance to each other, that doesn’t excuse Mariner’s gaffe. After all, they wear different numbers.
See the incident below.
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