Andy Cole reckons Chelsea player ‘definitely’ could’ve been sent off for what he did vs Ajax
Ajax suffered a heavy defeat with 10 men at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, but Andy Cole argued that Chelsea should’ve had a red card themselves.
The Blues picked up three points in the Champions League on Wednesday night, thrashing Dutch heavyweights Ajax 5-1 at home.
It became a very one-sided contest after the visitors picked up a red card inside the opening 20 minutes. After a nasty challenge on Facundo Buonanotte, Ajax skipper Kenneth Taylor was sent off following a useful intervention from VAR.
Taylor is sent off for Ajax, the visitors are down to ten.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2025
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Should Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo, 28, have been dismissed as well during a crazy first half?
Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Andy Cole thinks Tosin Adarabioyo could’ve been sent off vs Ajax
Blues centre-half Tosin, who was already on a booking, was involved in a controversial clash with opposition player Wout Weghorst in the 36th minute. After the duo clashed in an aerial duel, Tosin’s boot made contact with the Ajax striker’s head on the way down, causing a cut to emerge.
According to Premier League legend Andy Cole, there was some intent from the central defender to collide with Weghorst, so he thinks it could’ve been a second yellow card and a sending off.
Speaking on the BBC’s Champions League highlights show, present Mark Chapman said: “Pat Nevin on the radio said this could’ve been a second yellow and a red for Tosin (36th minute clash), and he was a bit lucky here, would you agree?”
Cole responded: “I would agree, he could do better, yeah, definitely, I think he’s half leaving his mark as well. They had a tussle earlier on and I think he’s half letting him know he’s about.”
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca substituted Tosin off the pitch at the break.
It will be intriguing to see if the senior centre-back gets to start on Saturday afternoon for the Premier League fixture at home to Sunderland. Currently, he’s competing with teammates Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Josh Acheampong to start in the heart of defence.
Although Tosin feels pivotal as a leader off the pitch, we think he may need to increase his levels to nail down a permanent spot in the best XI this season.
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Chelsea avoided yet another red card
Chelsea’s disciplinary record in the opening months of the 2025-26 season has been a concern.
If Tosin had been sent off on Wednesday night, it would have created even more headlines.
The Blues have picked up three red cards so far in the Premier League this season, plus they had a man dismissed in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich. Don’t forget Maresca also had to serve a ban for his red card, too.
It is an issue that needs to be resolved quickly because otherwise it could cost them further down the line.
