Why Chelsea vs Brentford referee choice is bad news for Blues after fans tried to get official BANNED last month

ANTHONY TAYLOR will take charge of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Brentford on Saturday.

And Blues fans are far from impressed to find out the Englishman will referee the game.

GETTY IMAGESTaylor sent James off for a handball on the goal line[/caption]

Chelsea are making a short trip to face league newcomers Brentford, who have got off to a flying start.

The Bees have impressively taken ten points from Arsenal, West Ham, Wolves and Liverpool.

And Saturday’s fixture comes just weeks after Chelsea fans started a petition to get Taylor banned from refereeing their games.

The official sent off Reece James for a hanball on the goal line.

And awarded Liverpool a penalty in August’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Football.London have put together a list of occasions Taylor has outraged Chelsea.

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Reece James red card

Although Chelsea came away with a point at Anfield, the sending off of James sparked debate.

A scramble inside the penalty area fell to Sadio Mane, who poked the ball towards goal.

The ball hit the leg of James – who was stationed on the goal line – and bounced up onto his arm.

Chelsea cleared the danger and play went on momentarily before VAR intervened.

Taylor went over to the monitor, looked at a still shot of the ball striking James’ arm and he awarded a penalty and issued a red card.

The official didn’t watch the build-up where the ball hit James’ leg before striking his arm, but still issued a red card.

Cesc Fabregas booked for simulation

Chelsea were taking on Southampton back in 2014 when Cesc Fabregas was brought down inside the penalty area.

Taylor didn’t award a penalty and instead booked the Spaniard for diving.

He later apologised, but Chelsea went on to draw the game 1-1, potentially dropping two points.

Paulo Gazzaniga flying kick

in 2019, then Tottenham keeper Paulo Gazzaniga turned into a WWE wrestler as he fly-kicked Marcos Alonso.

Taylor somehow decided Alonso was the man responsible for the decision and Spurs were awarded a free-kick.

VAR overturned the decision, but how Taylor came to his original conclusion was scrutinised.

Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary said: “That was a penalty. Gazzaniga misses the ball and just clatters into Alonso it looked like to me.

There was a foul given against Alonso, I don’t know how that can be.

They’re having a good look at it. It is ridiculous, it’s an assault.

I was never in doubt, it was a penalty. WWE, it was reckless from the goalkeeper.”

Willian tucked the penalty away and Chelsea won the game 2-0.

Alexis Sanchez handball FA Cup final

Back in 2017, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final.

And in the build-up to Arsenal’s opener, Alexis Sanchez should have been penalised for handball.

The goal was ruled out for offside against Aaron Ramsey in the build-up, but Taylor overruled the linesman and awarded the goal.

Taylor also showed Victor Moses a second yellow card for diving.

The controversial decision potentially cost the Blues a league title and an FA Cup in one season.

Harry Maguire kick-out

In last year’s game between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, United club captain Harry Maguire appeared to kick-out at Michy Batshuayi close to the touchline.

Maguire kicked out towards the forward’s private area.

And VAR nor referee Taylor gave a free-kick or issued a card.

Even Man Utd legend Roy Keane said the captain was lucky to escape punishment.

Mateo Kovacic red card FA Cup final

Chelsea lost their second FA Cup final in three years to Arsenal in 2020.

The Gunners won the game 2-1 thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace.

But Taylor stole the Wembley spotlight again with a dubious decision.

Kovacic – who was in a booking – went in for as 50-50 challenge with Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.

The Croatian was the one who was stepped on, but he was the one shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off.

Emiliano Martinez – who was in between the sticks for Arsenal – also handled the ball outside his penalty area, which also went unpunished.

The Blues have lost 44 per cent of games Taylor has refereed since 2019.

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