Chelsea defender Reece James tried to put off Manuel Lanzini by screaming as the West Ham midfielder ran up to slot home his penalty.
That crosses the line of what a professional sportsman should be doing and Lanzini reacted by barging into James and giving him a verbal volley after making it 1-1 after converting his spot kick despite the distraction.
James should have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour but referee Andre Marriner let it slide and giving the Chelsea man the benefit of the doubt.
London derbies are always a passionate affair for players and fans alike and temperatures were raised in yesterday’s lunchtime game.
Had it been more of a niggly affair then James may well have seen a yellow card but as Manu scored he let it go.
Maybe he felt if he booked James he would have had to book Lanzini also for the post celebration shoulder barge.
Standards are going down, He should have been at least booked. Got the ok to do it again. At what point do referees stop letting players get away with shirt pulling -holding -wrestling-you name it. Progressed to shouting as someone takes a penalty !!!! What next ????
It’s called sledging. Happens all the time. Someone may have it on their phone and find out exactly what was said. Could possibly have been racial and and a ban for the thug. Well done Manu smashed home the pen.