Antonio Rudiger avoided a red card for a lunging tackle on Tariq Lamptey.
During Chelsea's match against Brighton, Antonio Rudiger avoided a red card for a lunging tackle on Tariq Lamptey.
During Chelsea’s match against Brighton, Antonio Rudiger avoided a red card for a lunging tackle on Tariq Lamptey.
For a lunging foul on Tariq Lamptey, Antonio Rudiger almost avoided a probable red card.
During Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Brighton, Rudiger made the questionable leap.
At Stamford Bridge, Romelu Lukaku’s header appeared to have earned a crucial win for the Blues.
Danny Welbeck, who came off the bench to score a late equalizer for the Seagulls, had the final say.
The game, however, was tarnished by an unpleasant incident involving Chelsea fan favorite Rudiger.
When Brighton winger Tariq Lamptey launched one of his lightning-quick runs down the touchline, the defender, 28, had to react swiftly.
After beating Marcos Alonso, the former Chelsea academy starlet appeared to be on his way to scoring.
Rudiger, on the other hand, had different plans as he stormed in from his vantage point in the center.
Lamptey attempted a burst of speed to escape free, and the German lunged forward with both legs out.
And Rudiger utterly annihilated his opponent while simultaneously making contact with the ball, putting it out of play.
Surprisingly, there was no action taken against the seasoned defender.
The decision, however, did not impress football fans on Twitter.
“The Rudiger assault was the clearest red ever,” one said.
“Just saw that Rudiger tackle…,” commented another. “In football, I’ve never seen a more straightforward red card.”
“How do Chelsea get away with foul after foul, and that Rudiger challenge is a red,” one observer wondered. “The Rudiger one was absurd,” said another. “Bright red.”
Rudiger’s contract with Chelsea expires in the summer, so he may not be around for much longer to make similar tackles for Chelsea.
Real Madrid and Manchester United are among the clubs interested in signing him as a free agent.
Despite the fact that both parties remain far apart in negotiations, Chelsea refuses to give up hope of a new contract.
