Thursday 12 February 2015 12:44, UK
Everton boss Roberto Martinez felt Branislav Ivanovic should have been dismissed during their last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Tempers flared in the closing stages when Gareth Barry tripped Willian, earning a second yellow card, before Ivanovic motioned his head towards James McCarthy in the resulting fracas.
If you want to be on top of the laws, that's a red card. We got nothing out of that moment.
The Everton substitute was booked for his part in the melee, but Ivanovic avoided censure from referee Jonathan Moss and could face retrospective action from the Football Association.
The Spaniard said: "If you look at the images, Ivanovic's behaviour is wrong. That shouldn't be allowed.
"He grabs James McCarthy around his neck in a very forceful manner, then he puts his head against him when James McCarthy never reacted one single bit.
"If you want to be on top of the laws, that's a red card. We got nothing out of that moment."
The resulting free-kick led to the decisive goal and Ivanovic was involved.
His header was punched out unconvincingly by Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard to Willian, who struck home.
Martinez added: "If you want to analyse that action (when it leads to the goal), it's even more hurtful."
And Martinez rued returning to Merseyside beaten after conceding such a late goal.
"The performance didn't deserve to end up with a negative result," he said. "We produced probably the two best chances in the game. Petr Cech's reflexes were the difference."
Watch Everton's next Premier League game at home to Leicester live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday, Februrary 22.
