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Bertrand earns first VAR sending off in EPL history for challenge on Perez

  /  autty

Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand became the first Premier League player to be sent off by VAR during his side's game at home to Leicester on Friday night. 

Shortly after Ben Chilwell had given Leicester the lead, a VAR check was undertaken.

The footage showed that Bertrand committed a rash challenge on Leicester forward Ayoze Perez in the buildup to Chilwell's goal.

Andre Marriner proceeded to show Bertrand the red card, with Mike Dean having made the decision for the left-back to be dismissed.

Bertrand was left aggrieved by the decision, but in reality deserved to be punished.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was adamant that a red card was the correct decision.

Neville said: 'Look no one can look at this and say it's not a red card. I think the doubt is that they've been so reluctant to overrule things. Mike Dean, I always thought he'd be the one who'd be confident enough to do it.

'It's a bad touch and an instinctive lunge. It's not that excessive force where he's jumping in at it. But he actually holds his leg into it and you can see why it's been overturned.'

The dismissal of the 30-year-old threw Southampton into further disarray following a chaotic start to the game.   

Leicester proceeded to win 9-0 - the biggest away win in Premier League history, and the joint-biggest win in the division. 

Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy both scored hat-tricks, while, in addition Chilwell, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison also managed to get on the scoresheet.