REASON WHY SANCHEZ WASN’T AWARDED A RED CARD DESPITE IT’S VIOLENT CONDUCT HAS LEFT EVERYONE FURIOUS —FA RELEASES SHOCKING STATEMENT

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Football fans are no strangers to controversy, but every once in a while, an incident comes along that completely shatters trust in officiating, VAR, and the rulebook itself. What unfolded during West Ham’s fiery clash has now been added to that ever-growing list — and supporters across the football world are absolutely raging.

At the centre of the storm is Sanchez, whose involvement in an explosive on-field altercation left players, pundits, and fans convinced that a straight red card was inevitable. The footage spread like wildfire across social media within minutes. Freeze-frames, slow-motion replays, zoomed-in screenshots — everything pointed to one conclusion.

Yet somehow, unbelievably, Sanchez escaped punishment.

Instead, it was West Ham defender Todibo who walked down the tunnel after being shown a red card, leaving fans asking the same question over and over again:

How does that make sense?

What followed only made things worse.

THE INCIDENT THAT SPARKED TOTAL MAYHEM

The match was already tense. Challenges were flying in, tempers were fraying, and the atmosphere inside the stadium felt like it could explode at any second. Then came the moment.

A routine contest suddenly turned ugly. Bodies collided. Arms tangled. And in the middle of the chaos, cameras caught Sanchez appearing to grab, shove, and aggressively make contact in a manner many immediately labelled as violent conduct.

Players from both sides rushed in. Referees attempted to regain control. VAR took its time. The crowd roared in disbelief.

Moments later, the referee reached for a card.

But it wasn’t Sanchez who was punished.

Instead, Todibo was sent off.

The reaction was instant and explosive.

FANS IN TOTAL DISBELIEF: “ARE WE WATCHING THE SAME GAME?”

Social media erupted.

Supporters flooded X, Instagram, Facebook, and fan forums with one burning accusation: selective justice.

Screenshots of Sanchez’s actions were posted side-by-side with the Laws of the Game. Video clips looped endlessly. Former referees were tagged. Analysts weighed in. Influencers screamed into microphones.

Many fans pointed out that violent conduct does not require excessive force — only intent and action off the ball.

So why, they asked, was Sanchez still on the pitch?

Why was Todibo the only one punished?

And most importantly…

Why did VAR not intervene?

THE FA STEPS IN — AND MAKES IT WORSE

As outrage grew louder, the Football Association knew silence was no longer an option.

Late after the match, the FA released a statement.

Fans were expecting clarity.

What they got instead was fuel on the fire.

According to the FA, Sanchez’s actions were deemed “insufficient to meet the threshold for violent conduct”, while Todibo’s involvement was considered “clear denial of control and excessive aggression”.

That single explanation sent supporters into meltdown.

WHAT THE RULES ACTUALLY SAY — AND WHY FANS ARE FURIOUS

Under IFAB Laws of the Game, violent conduct is defined as:

“When a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.”

Key words:

• Attempts
• Brutality
• Not challenging for the ball

Fans argue Sanchez ticked every box.

The act was off the ball.

The contact was aggressive.

The intent appeared clear.

Yet the FA’s explanation leaned heavily on “interpretation”, suggesting Sanchez’s actions were viewed as reactive rather than deliberate.

That distinction is exactly what has people furious.

TODIBO MADE THE SCAPEGOAT?

For West Ham supporters, the sense of injustice runs even deeper.

Todibo, by most accounts, reacted after being involved in the confrontation, yet he was the only one to suffer the ultimate punishment.

Many fans believe he became the easy decision — the player VAR and the referee felt comfortable sacrificing to regain control of the match.

The optics were brutal:

• One player sent off
• Another escapes without even a booking
• Clear video evidence suggesting both were involved

To fans, it felt less like justice and more like damage control.

PUNDITS SPEAK OUT: “THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT”

Former players and referees quickly joined the debate.

Several high-profile pundits questioned how consistency could possibly exist if incidents like this are judged so differently week to week.

One former Premier League referee admitted:

“If that’s not violent conduct, then the definition has become meaningless.”

Another pundit went even further, warning:

“Players are watching this. They’ll know exactly what they can get away with.”

And that might be the most worrying part of all.

VAR UNDER FIRE — AGAIN

This incident has reignited the never-ending debate around VAR.

Fans are no longer asking whether VAR works.

They’re asking who it works for.

Why was every angle reviewed?

Why was the footage slowed down?

Why was the decision still so controversial?

For many, VAR’s involvement only made the situation worse — turning what should have been clarity into confusion.

THE BIGGER ISSUE: CONSISTENCY IN FOOTBALL OFFICIATING

This isn’t just about Sanchez.

It’s not just about Todibo.

It’s not even just about West Ham.

This is about trust.

Fans want to believe the rules apply equally to everyone. They want to believe referees are protected by VAR, not undermined by it. They want to believe the FA values fairness over optics.

Incidents like this destroy that belief.

And once trust is gone, it’s incredibly hard to win back.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The FA has made its position clear.

No retrospective action is expected.

No apology has been issued.

No acknowledgment of error has been given.

But the damage is already done.

This incident will be referenced for weeks, months, even years — whenever another controversial decision arises.

Fans won’t forget.

Players won’t forget.

Clubs certainly won’t forget.

FINAL VERDICT: A DECISION THAT WILL HAUNT THE SEASON

Football thrives on passion, emotion, and drama.

But it also relies on fairness.

When fans feel robbed not by opponents, but by those meant to enforce the rules, the sport suffers.

Sanchez walking away without a red card while Todibo was dismissed has become one of the most infuriating officiating moments of the season.

And despite the FA’s “shocking statement,” one thing is crystal clear: