Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper endured a nightmare outing at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, lasting barely ten minutes before being sent off in dramatic fashion during the Premier League clash with Manchester United. The incident came when Robert Sánchez brought down United forward Bryan Mbeumo, who was breaking clear through on goal. With the striker racing into a dangerous position and only the goalkeeper to beat, Sánchez made a late challenge just outside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little choice but to brandish a straight red card.
The dismissal immediately sparked debate among pundits and fans alike. On commentary duty for Sky Sports, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith weighed in on the decision, acknowledging that while the foul was clear, the circumstances were more debatable. Smith noted that two Chelsea defenders were sprinting back into position, creating what could have been a two-versus-one defensive scenario. Despite that, referee Peter Bankes ruled that the challenge had denied Mbeumo an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, a judgment that carries significant weight under the laws of the game.
“It’s a huge call,” Smith admitted during the broadcast. “There’s no doubt it was a foul – Sánchez was late and clumsy in his attempt to stop the play. But whether it truly qualifies as denying a clear goal-scoring chance is always going to be a subjective call. On this occasion, the referee felt strongly enough to issue the red, and I don’t think VAR were ever likely to overturn it.” His remarks highlighted the fine margins involved in such decisions and the limited scope for video review to intervene in what is often a matter of interpretation rather than clear error.
Shortly after the incident, the Premier League confirmed that Sánchez’s dismissal was categorized as denying a goal-scoring opportunity, rather than serious foul play. That distinction proved important: instead of serving a three-match suspension, the Spaniard will face only a one-game ban. Even so, the red card rules him out of Chelsea’s upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln City, set to be played at Sincil Bank on Tuesday, September 22.
It remains unclear whether manager Enzo Maresca had planned to start Sánchez in that competition, given the need to balance his squad for Premier League and European commitments. Cup matches often provide opportunities for rotation, with second-choice goalkeepers handed valuable minutes. However, the decision is now out of Maresca’s hands – Sánchez will be unavailable for selection, forcing the Chelsea boss to rely on one of his alternatives between the sticks. The episode adds another headache to an already challenging period for the Blues, who must quickly regroup and adapt following their setback at Old Trafford.
