Marc Cucurella's dismissal just 22 minutes into Chelsea's west London derby at Fulham handed new manager Liam Rosenior an unwelcome introduction to his fresh challenge at Stamford Bridge.
The 41-year-old watched from the stands at Craven Cottage as his Spanish left-back hauled down Harry Wilson, who had been released by a 75-yard pass from goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
With the Welsh winger bearing down on goal, Cucurella found himself as the last defender and resorted to dragging his opponent to the ground.
The referee showed no hesitation in producing the red card, leaving Chelsea's players incensed.
Marc Cucurella was sent off after hauling Harry Wilson down
|REUTERS
This sending-off represented Chelsea's fifth Premier League red card of the campaign, a staggering figure that dwarfs every other club in the division.
No rival side has accumulated more than two dismissals this season, underlining the scale of the disciplinary crisis Rosenior inherits.
The persistent lack of control that plagued the World Club Cup winners throughout Enzo Maresca's time in charge has evidently not been resolved.
Addressing this troubling pattern will rank among the most pressing priorities for the incoming head coach when he finally assumes his position on the touchline.
The Premier League match centre subsequently confirmed the official's decision, stating that VAR had checked and upheld the red card for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, noting that Cucurella's holding offence occurred outside the penalty area.
The dismissal sparked an angry response from Chelsea's players that only compounded their difficulties.
Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo were further shown cards for dissent
|REUTERS
Enzo Fernandez received a yellow card after furiously confronting the referee over the decision.
Cole Palmer then followed his teammate into the book for similar protests.
Tosin Adarabioyo completed the trio of cautions, also shown yellow for dissent as frustrations boiled over among the ten remaining Blues players.
Cucurella pulls down Wilson on the edge of the penalty area and is given his marching orders! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/8vPliMWqxo
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 7, 2026
Cucurella's suspension will see him miss three significant fixtures as Rosenior prepares to take the reins.
The Spaniard will be unavailable for the FA Cup third-round encounter away at Charlton Athletic, the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge, and the Premier League clash when Brentford visit.
Rosenior explained his decision to observe rather than manage against Fulham, telling Sky Sports: "Just travel. But mainly the fact that Calum did such an incredible job against Man City."
The new boss, who arrived from Strasbourg yesterday morning, expressed complete confidence in under-21s manager Calum McFarlane to lead the side.