ENZO FERNANDEZ was booked for CONGRATULATING the referee during Chelsea’s triumph at Aston Villa.
The Blues thrashed Villa 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick by Joao Pedro and a goal by Cole Palmer after Douglas Luiz’s early opener.
However, the West Londoners’ miserable booking record was extended at Villa Park with two players going into the book.
Pedro was first shown a yellow on 54 minutes, but it was his team-mate Fernandez, 25, who went viral just four minutes later.
The midfielder may have picked up the most bizarre booking of the season as he was shown a yellow card after clapping at referee Jarred Gillett.
Chelsea earned a free-kick down their own half after a tussle between Malo Gusto and Villa star Morgan Rogers, which concluded with the latter fouling the full-back.
Fernandez appeared to be praising the ref’s decision but ended up seeing yellow as the official may have thought he was being ironic.
Nevertheless, a number of fans criticised the Argentina international’s action amid a season that has seen Chelsea amassing a great deal of cards.
One fan tweeted: “He just didn’t need to get involved. Why get himself into a position to give the ref a reason to book him?”
Another commented: “Clapping the ref in their face has always been a yellow.”
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A third wrote: “Stupid yellow again.”
This fan said: “Sub Enzo Fernandez before he gets a silly 2nd yellow card.”
And that one added: “Enzo Fernandez with a stupid Yellow card. We never learn.”
Chelsea have amassed seven red cards in all of their 28 Premier League matches this season, which is more than any other team in the top flight.
Liam Rosenior’s side also count 63 yellow cards, which is the fourth largest amount in the Prem and only six behind Tottenham, who top that category.
