Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has called for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke to be handed a two-week fine following his reaction to being substituted during the Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
Rio Ferdinand Urges Two-Week Fine for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke After ‘Disrespectful’ Act
Madueke, who started on the right wing, was visibly frustrated when he was replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk shortly after Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead.
His anger boiled over as he stormed down the Stamford Bridge tunnel, missing Pedro Neto’s late equalizer which secured a point for Chelsea.
Although Madueke eventually returned to the bench, his actions left a sour taste. Ferdinand, speaking on his show Rio Ferdinand Presents, did not mince words.
“You think Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverly, or Nani are going to storm off the pitch and throw their dummy out?” Ferdinand remarked.
“It’s disrespectful to your teammates as well.”
Ferdinand expressed concern about the lack of experienced players in the team to address such behavior, stating,
“Who are the experienced players who are going to go in there and say, ‘Woah, we don’t accept that here’?”
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves joined the discussion, recalling the firm discipline under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“We would have never done it because Sir Alex would have knocked your arse out,” Hargreaves said.
Ferdinand agreed, emphasizing that managers should not condone such actions. “I think the manager protecting him is mad,” he added, suggesting a two-week fine would be appropriate to teach the youngster a lesson.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, however, took a more understanding stance.
“The problem is when you change a player, they are never happy,” he explained. Maresca justified the substitution as a tactical decision, indicating that it had nothing to do with Madueke’s performance.
“Probably Pedro with Timber could be a little bit more aggressive – and also with Misha. So it was a tactical decision, no more than that,” Maresca said.
While it’s clear that Madueke’s passion and desire to stay on the pitch are commendable, his actions have sparked a debate on discipline and professionalism.
As Chelsea navigates the remainder of the season, the young winger will need to channel his frustration more constructively to avoid further repercussions.
