‘Very, very lucky’ – BBC pundit weighs in on West Ham player controversy against Aston Villa
Shay Given: Edson Álvarez was "very lucky" to avoid a red card in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 (26 January), Shay Given argued that Edson Álvarez should have been sent off before setting up Emerson’s headed equalizer in West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Given pointed out that Álvarez was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a series of incidents.
He first kicked the ball away after a free-kick was awarded against him, and later fouled Boubacar Kamara late in the match, all while already having received a yellow card for handball early in the second half.
Given stated:
“I think Álvarez is very lucky to still be on the pitch, to be honest. There was a challenge in the first half where he gets the ball, but look at his reaction – he kicks the ball away.
That’s a straight yellow card, no question. His yellow card in the second half should have been his second.
And the late foul on Kamara is definitely another yellow card. He’s very, very lucky to be on the pitch.
He’s had nine red cards already in his career; today could have been double figures if the referee had spotted the ball he kicked away earlier.”
West Ham and Álvarez fortunate at Villa Park
Although West Ham earned a well-deserved point from their trip to Villa Park, Graham Potter must recognize that they were fortunate to finish the match with 11 men, given Álvarez’s actions.
While his first-half ball kick largely went unnoticed, Potter acknowledged that Álvarez was walking a tightrope and substituted him for Andy Irving late in the game.
That substitution came shortly after Álvarez fouled Kamara off the ball to break up a late counter-attack from Villa.
It was no surprise to hear the Villa Park crowd jeer when Álvarez received no further punishment.
Álvarez, who has already accumulated nine career red cards, added to his tally this season with two dismissals—one for two bookings against Liverpool in the EFL Cup and another against Nottingham Forest in the league.
While he narrowly avoided a red card at Villa Park, both he and Potter will know that he can’t keep gambling with his discipline, as it could leave the team exposed.
