By Tyne-Talk
February 2 2013

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has slammed referee Howard Webb for making "too many mistakes" in todays game against Newcastle United. Benitez' main arguement is that Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini should have been sent off for the kick in the face he inflicted on former team-mate Demba Ba. Ba, who left the field of play with a broken nose ended up missing out on 50 minutes of the game after being replaced by Fernando Torres.

Benitez said after the game;

"There were too many mistakes. I could see a red card that was not shown for Fabricio Coloccini. We had a chance and Demba Ba received a broken nose, it is bleeding. It's simple, if it was in the middle of the pitch, you bring it back and give the foul." 

In another interview he told reporters;

"If the players show the character that they showed in the second half, it means something is right. If we cannot control these games, it is something we have to improve.

With some players: David Luiz, [Eden] Hazard, [John] Obi Mikel and Victor Moses coming back that gives us more options and maybe we can have fresh legs on the pitch.

When we are in form and doing well, we can beat anyone. We are doing a good job in terms of what you can see on the pitch so we're doing well. The team has great team spirit and I'm confident that the team will finish in the top three.

I felt the reaction of the team in the second half was fantastic, We scored great goals, we had more chances but we made the mistake to allow them to play on the counterattack.

We have to improve, but we couldn't change the situation of Demba Ba.  It was a penalty and a red card for me. In the middle of the park it's just carry on, go back, free kick. In the penalty area it's carry on, go back, penalty and red card.

It changed the game, we lost a player to a broken nose. It's something to consider. In other circumstances, everyone would be talking about this."

Chelsea also had a penalty appeal in the final minute of the game when Frank Lampard claimed handball in the box. Howard Webb however dismissed his appeals and allowed the game to continue.

Not sure what Benitez is getting at by suggesting that the Ba broken nose incident would be a talking point in any other game. Surely if he is suggesting that Howard Webb failed to take action against Fabricio Coloccini, because it was Ba's first appearance back at St James Park, he could find himself in hot water with the FA.

Benitez Questions Howard Webb's "Mistakes"

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 02/02/2013 19:05

TyneTalk
02/02/2013 19:05

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Micky G
02/02/2013 20:10

A very blinkered individual is Benitez, so many decisions went there way as per normal. It was 2 people going for the ball nothing more than that and an unfortunate result of the clash (unlike the studs up on Jonas). Chelsea didn't turn up in the first half and could've been out of sight but for a good day by Petr Cech, they played for about 20 minutes only so didn't deserve a point. we were fantastic especially the 2 new boys, from front to back everyone played their part, this could be the biggest result of the season which really turns it around.

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annie
02/02/2013 20:19

I think Coloccini was very lucky not to be sent off.
If the situation was reversed we'd be absolutely furious that we didn't get a penalty.

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Andrew The Mag
02/02/2013 20:31

How the hell Ramires never got sent off I will never know.

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surreymag
02/02/2013 20:33

He's a clown Remeries should have gone so at best it would have been 10v10!game changer my backside.

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MissC
02/02/2013 20:41

Coloccini was very lucky. I do believe that - he should have at least been yellow carded.

Ramires the same - if Colocinni had been sent off then the arguement would have been that it should have been 10 v 10 agreed

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annie
02/02/2013 20:57

Just watching the tackle on Sky. Ramires should have gone.
10 v 10 would have been fair.

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surreymag
03/02/2013 09:29

We would have still won of course.Still in a sense of shock with that result yesterday get in!

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annie
03/02/2013 09:43

The most effective thing Cisse did yesterday was to grab Ashley Cole around the throat. He even did that weakly.

And Cisse should probably have been sent off.


Luckily for us the Howard Webb had a bad game.

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MissC
03/02/2013 11:26

...annie you aren't meant to agree with Rafa! lol

Cisse though was also lucky - I am suprised that didn't feature in the postmatch comments

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annie
03/02/2013 11:50

Sorry

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mentalman
03/02/2013 14:38

Collo was lucky not to get booked but I dont know where a penaltywould come into it, ba wasn't impeded he'd already headed the ball at goal so getting kicked in the face didn't deny a goal scoring opportunity! You could also look at the incident and say what was doing putting his head down that low!

As for the penalty at the end it clearly hits saylor in the nads!

chelsea players were getting away with murder during the match and cisse deserved to get booked but why did cole get involved!

rafas comments just sound like those of a nervous man

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davenufc
03/02/2013 16:44

Cisse deserved a round of applause for throttling cole, I didn't actually notice it (I'm turning into wenger) but had I done I would of applauded.

And as for Ba, that's simply a geordie welcome back

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mentalman
04/02/2013 09:35

Ba is just lucky Tiote was away, he would have probably tried to break his legs!

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davenufc
04/02/2013 10:35

A good point well made.

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