Huge VAR change called for by ex-Premier League star after 'bad' Rico Lewis red

The England international had scored a vital equaliser for the reigning Premier League champions in their 2-2 draw with the Eagles.

However, his joy quickly turned to frustration as he received a second yellow card for a tackle on Trevoh Chalobah.

Lewis went into the tackle hard and contact actually appeared to be from Chalobah on the versatile Man City star as they collided with the ball moved on by the ex-Chelsea star.

However, former Premier League players Jason Cundy, Scott Minto and Jamie O'Hara all felt the decision was harsh on Lewis.

And the referee's call led to ex-Chelsea star Cundy to call for a huge VAR change to improve the game.

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He told talkSPORT: "The Rico Lewis second yellow card, I'm not having it mate. Okay. I'm not having it.

"I'll tell you what, if football really wants to move down the track of improving VAR - this has bugged me for a while - a second yellow card for a red, why it cannot be looked at by VAR?

"It is an absolute mystery."

O'Hara responded: "Well, you know my thoughts on VAR, Jason, I want it in the bin but I don't suppose it's going to happen."

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Cundy replied: "No, no, VAR is here to stay, right? It's here to stay, right? But make it better. VAR is… Look, it ain't brilliant, it ain't perfect, but it's in the game and it's going to stay. Second yellow cards for a red have to be looked at by VAR.

"I don't understand how a straight red can be looked at, yet a second yellow for a red can't be. I don't get that.

"Improve the game. If VAR is here to stay, right, and it is, improve the game, make it better, make it work. Because for me, that second yellow, it's not a second yellow."

He later added: "The law is an a**.

"I don't fully understand what the difference would be in terms of what the decision is for that game. There is nothing to choose between the two. A second yellow changes the game, a straight red changes the game, right?

"So you can review a straight red, we've seen that happen. There was a second yellow a couple of weeks ago, I can't remember which one it was, it was harsh. But because you can't review it, you have to go with the on-field decision.

"Rico Lewis's yellow card today is an absolute disgrace. An absolute disgrace. There is no way on this earth it's even a foul, let alone a second yellow, right?

"Rob Jones gives it as a second yellow, fine, he makes mistakes. You can see why he's giving, right?

"When Chalobah wins the ball and then he steps on Rico Lewis's foot. If you're going to give any decision, you give it the Palace.

"The truth is, it's a non-decision. It's a non-decision for me.

The referee has seen Chalobah go down, but anyway, it's irrelevant.

"It's so bad. It's such a bad call. And then you find yourself in a position where for the last 20 minutes of the game, Man City are down to 10 men, but they now don't have Rico Lewis to choose, right?

"It's the second yellow, so he misses the next game. That to me, makes the law an a**.

"Change it."

He added: "I'm not sure we can blame Premier League. I think IFAB need to look at that. That's the governing body."

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Meanwhile, Minto, who watched the game for talkSPORT, added: "I don't get it.

"Someone's getting sent off. A team's going down to 10 men. So why should you not be doubly sure? Although we're never quite even doubly sure with VAR.

"I think if he looked at it again, it's one of those where, to the letter of the law, if he really wants to, he could argue the case that he was off his feet. He didn't get the ball and therefore it's a yellow card.

"But I think anybody who's watching football on a regular basis will say, come on, come on, that's harsh. You don't need to make that particular call."

After the match, Man City boss Pep Guardiola was asked about the challenge.

However, he simply turned the question around and replied "Have you seen it?

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"I didn't see it, you can tell me, I didn't see it yet."

When the reporter admitted he and others had felt it was harsh, Guardiola said: "It is what it is," before swiftly exiting before talkSPORT could query him on the game.