Chelsea expressed disappointment following the controversial decision not to send off [b]Bournemouth’s[/b] David Brooks for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair during a heated 2-2 draw in their Premier League encounter.
The incident occurred shortly after Justin Kluivert leveled the game for Bournemouth, intensifying the drama on the pitch.
As Chelsea pressed forward in a counter-attack, Cucurella surged down the left wing but was halted abruptly by Brooks, who appeared to grab a fistful of the Spaniard’s hair to bring him down.
Cucurella, visibly in pain, collapsed to the ground clutching his face, prompting immediate protests from Chelsea players who demanded stricter action against the Bournemouth player.
The referee, Robert Jones, paused the game to review the footage after a VAR intervention highlighted the off-the-ball contact. Replays clearly showed Brooks pulling Cucurella's hair, causing a significant uproar among Chelsea fans.
Despite the clear evidence, Jones opted to issue only a yellow card to Brooks, sparking outrage and disbelief from Chelsea players, staff, and supporters.
The Premier League Match Centre later released a statement defending the decision, claiming the hair-pulling incident did not meet the required criteria for violent conduct, a justification that failed to appease Chelsea's frustrated fanbase.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw after a nail-biting finish, with Reece James salvaging a point for the home team through a stunning last-minute free-kick. However, the result leaves Chelsea struggling, extending their winless run to five consecutive games.
This controversial moment has added to Chelsea’s mounting frustrations as they look to rediscover their form in a challenging Premier League campaign.
