The Match of the Day pundits had their opinions split on Wilfried Ndidi’s potential red card challenge.
Leicester City fell to yet another defeat on home soil, this time in a 2-1 loss to high-flying Chelsea.
The Chelsea side managed by former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca took total control against Steve Cooper’s side, making it five successive games without a win.
Leicester City’s chances of coming away from the game with any points were certainly slim after the injury sustained by Harry Winks, who looks set to be out for a number of weeks.
Aside from the defeat and the calamitous moments from the likes of Wout Faes, whose failed clearance led to the first goal, as well as Caleb Okoli’s struggles in beating Nicolas Jackson to a header, which resulted in a goal for Enzo Fernandez.
However, one other moment that reflected badly on the Foxes was the potential red card that Wilfred Ndidi avoided, and it has certainly divided opinion after the game.
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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker debate on Wilfred Ndidi challenge in Leicester City vs Chelsea
Nigerian midfielder Ndidi was somewhat lucky to remain on the pitch after a challenge on Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, which connected with the back of the attacker’s leg.
The challenge was met with a yellow card by the referee, however that was a decision that was not agreed with by one Match of the Day pundit.
Per The BBC, Ashley Williams gave his view on the foul, to which he said: “This one is a little bit naughty from Ndidi, looked worse in slo mo, you can see how high he actually catches Palmer. I’m not sure if that’s a red.”
However, that was a standpoint that Alan Shearer wholeheartedly objected to, as he suggested: “I thought Ndidi’s was a certain red card, he’s gone to hurt him there.”
Sitting on the fence was Leicester City legend Gary Lineker, who believed ‘it was amber’, and could have potentially been given either way with very little complaints.
Leicester City will count themselves lucky after reckless lunge by Wilfred Ndidi
Whilst the decision stood as a yellow card, Leicester City and Cooper will be counting themselves lucky that it wasn’t turned into a red, and the Foxes would have had no complaints if that was to be the case.
If Ndidi was handed his marching orders, it would have left Cooper’s side in a real mire in regards to midfield options, especially after the injury sustained by Winks.
Such a refereeing decision easily could have swayed the likelihood of Cooper keeping his job out of his favour as the upcoming games would certainly be massively difficult without the Nigerian midfielder.