Chelsea rebel Kepa broke NO rules by refusing to come off and ref could do nothing about it
Keeper's Carabao Cup final mutiny infuriated the Blues' management teams, fans and pundits - but the laws of football are on the Spaniard's side and meant play had to continue
KEPA Arrizabalaga had EVERY right to refuse to come off in the Carabao Cup Final - at least according to the Laws of football.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri was left seething at what appeared rank insubordination by the Spanish keeper when he ignored plans to substitute him for No 2 keeper Willy Caballero.
Sarri attempted to downplay the incident following Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out win, suggesting it was all down to a “misunderstanding”.
Some fans wondered whether referee Jon Moss should have intervened to force Kepa off as Chelsea has requested a hold-up in play to make the planned change.
Equally, there were questions over whether the referee could make mention of the incident to the FA in his official match report.
But Fifa Law 3.3, covering substitutions, makes clear there is nothing Moss can do - and nothing, strictly, that Kepa did wrong.
The Law states: “If a player who is to be replaced refuses to leave, play continues.”
The letter of the Law may have been on Kepa’s side but plenty of Chelsea fans were infuriated by his behaviour.
Nevertheless, it seems the Spaniard will keep his place in goal for Wednesday’s derby clash with Spurs, even if Sarri’s authority looks to have been undermined yet further.
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