Probably if it happened to another player he would still have been sent off, because the kick (regardless of where he aimed it) was a lash out of frustration, hence was deemed as violent conduct, any sensible ref would send off any player for doing the same thing...
The year gets worse and worse for Chelsea, but after the way Di Matteo was treated (and the whole Clattenburg incident, which defo hasn't helped Chelsea's image), I would say it's deserved any failings of this side of the season...
Not European Champions for much longer though either...