Twitter Reacts: Pablo Zabaleta's Red Card vs. Chelsea

Updates from Monday, Sept. 22

Pablo Zabaleta apologised for his red card following Manchester City's 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, but then declared his belief that Diego Costa should also have been dismissed.

Zabaleta tweeted:

I would like to apologise to everyone for my red card today.
— Pablo Zabaleta (@pablo_zabaleta) September 21, 2014

However after seeing this image I can't believe that Diego Costa remained on the pitch. pic.twitter.com/WwjyG9CXzx
— Pablo Zabaleta (@pablo_zabaleta) September 21, 2014

Original Text

Manchester City and Chelsea were locked in a battle at the Etihad during Sunday's Premier League action, and the hosts' bid to end the Blues' undefeated start became a little harder when defender Pablo Zabaleta saw a red card for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.

The Argentine full-back received his marching orders for a poor challenge on Chelsea's Diego Costa, a lapse of judgment as he should have known he was already carrying a yellow for a foul on Eden Hazard.

Football Cliches was not impressed by the standard of the match, and it felt Zabaleta's dismissal was right in line:

Jesus. Even the red cards are boring.
— Football Clichés (@FootballCliches) September 21, 2014

Chelsea's Twitter feed also wasn't particularly enthusiastic:

Zabaleta is sent off for a second booking. #CFCLive
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) September 21, 2014

As shared by WhoScored.com, the Argentina international hadn't been sent off in over three years:

Pablo Zabaleta: Has received his first red card in the Premier League since being sent off against Arsenal (January 2011) #mcfc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 21, 2014

Bleacher Report's Christopher Atkins agreed with the decision:

Was always going to be a red card in this the way Mike Dean has carried on. However, Zab's second yellow was probably fair enough.
— Christopher Atkins (@ChrisAtkins_) September 21, 2014

Manchester Evening News' Stuart Brennan thought the decision was a little harsh:

Strictly speaking, it had to be another yellow for Zabaleta, but Dean has thrown too many cards around and is in danger of spoiling the game
— Stuart Brennan (@StuBrennanMEN) September 21, 2014

ESPN FC's Michael Cox saw captain Vincent Kompany try to change Mike Dean's mind, and he could only guess what the Belgian was saying:

Kompany probably sticking up for Zabaleta by saying "Come on, I do that all the time and never get punished"
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) September 21, 2014

As is so often the case in football, Chelsea immediately took advantage, as substitute Andre Schurrle opened the score just minutes later. Per OutsideoftheBoot.com, Zabaleta's presence could have made the difference:

Zabaleta would have been in that area to prevent Schurrle from scoring.
— OutsideoftheBoot.com (@OOTB_football) September 21, 2014

The Sports Bible's Liam predicted such an exact scenario:

Pablo Zabaleta is sent off, turning point in this tight game? Going to be a great last 25 minutes that's for sure.
— Liam (@OffsideLiam) September 21, 2014

Manchester City were winless in three consecutive matches coming into this match, including a midweek 1-0 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich. Losing against Chelsea would put them in an early hole in the Premier League race, a far cry from last year's dominant campaign.    

Bacary Sagna is a natural replacement for Zabaleta at right-back, however, so a suspension for the Argentine shouldn't give the Citizens too many problems.

Source: Bleacher Report