Jamie O’Hara blasted Kai Havertz’s ‘shocking’ dive, insisting the German should have been sent off rather than being shown just the yellow against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup final for the third successive time as Thomas Tuchel will be looking to set things right after their loss in the fixture last season. The Blues lost to Leicester City last season after Youri Tielemnans’s wonder strike settled the clash.
This time around, Chelsea beat Crystal Palace after goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount settled the tie. Patrick Vieira’s men were a tough match for the Blues until Tyrick Mitchell’s error cost them a second-half goal.
Mount was on hand later to double the lead during a period when Crystal Palace looked threatening. The second goal put the game beyond doubt and sent Chelsea into the FA Cup final. However, there were some controversial moments in the game, especially the incident in the first half involving Kai Havertz.
The Chelsea forward collected a ball from Timo Werner and fell just outside the area after trying to burst into the box. On initial viewing, it looked like a foul by Marc Guehi, only for referee Anthony Taylor to book the German for simulation, which turned out to be the right call.
"I would have sent him off!" ?
Jamie O'Hara was NOT happy with Kai Havertz after the Chelsea man was booked for diving. pic.twitter.com/jvgNzDM0Ej
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 17, 2022
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, on matchday punditry with Sky Sports, was quoted by Express, insisting Havertz should have been sent off for the ‘shocking’ dive. The pundit stated, that incidents like these hurt the game and hence need sterner punishments rather than the yellow that referee Taylor brandished.
O’Hara said, “Timo Werner does really well out on the left, and he slips the ball into Havertz. His first touch is absolutely brilliant to take it past the defender, but as he goes past him it looks like he’s fouled right on the edge of the box.”
“He’s looking for a penalty. The referee books him for diving, and watching it back Havertz has dived. It’s a shocking dive as well, and there’s absolutely no place for it in the game. He’s got a booking for it, but the Crystal Palace players are going crazy.”
“That, for me, is such bad simulation. It’s not what you want to see in the game, especially at the highest level in a big moment. It’s stupid from him because his first touch takes him past the defender, and he’s in. He could get a shot off, or he’s one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Shocking from him. I hate to see it in the game, and we need to get it out as soon as possible. I would have sent him off.”
A dive like that warranted a yellow and not the red O’Hara insists. In the 2017 FA Cup Final, then Chelsea star Victor Moses was sent off for a similar incident against Arsenal, and that too was a second bookable offence rather than a straight sending off. The incident had no bearing on the game, as Chelsea fought their way to a solid victory against Palace. The Blues will now take on Liverpool at Wembley on 14th May.
