Former Prime Minister League referee Dermot Gallagher assesses the controversial moments from the action of the weekend, including the much-discussed free kick versus Arsenal by Bruno Fernandes.
Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal
Incident: A lot was made about the distance of the wall of where Bruno Fernandes took his free kick, from which he opened the score for Manchester United.
It was measured as 11.2 meters, which is further away than the usual 10.
The IFAB Act 13.2 states that a wall must be 'at least 9.15 m (10yds) of the ball, unless they are on their own goal line between the goal posts'.
Dermot says: “The referee thought it was 10 meters and honesty to him, the law says at least 10 meters. It does not say that they cannot go back 11.
“He may have processed me that when a free kick is taken, the wall goes ahead anyway, so by the time the free kick is taken, it is closer to 10.
“I'm not sure if the calibration [of the measurement] has good anyway, but Anthony Taylor will have his system of measuring 10 meters.
“The field is cut in sections of six meters and looking at the photos, it doesn't seem to be much of 10 meters when you see it.
“There are guides for referees to help them.”
Incident: Arsenal was determined that they should have had a penalty when the ball hit Ayden Heaven's arm in the box.
Dermot says: “He gets it on his own arm. He's going to bring the ball to his own arm, the ball knew.
“It is not a fine. It cannot be given that way. Nobody would give a fine for that.”
Incident: Arsenal's Mikel Merino was not punished for catching Alejandro Garnacho on the ankle when the United player was on the deck.
Dermot says: “If the referee gives something, he gives a yellow card. It doesn't look good, but I don't think it's a red card.
“I think Casemiro also gives him a kick, so he was started by two players!
“What Garnacho helps is that he is on his boot instead of his ankle.”
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
Incident: There was a VAR check for a red card against Darwin Nunez from Liverpool for an error on Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters. Instead, he was shown a yellow card.
Dermot says: “It's Petulant, but if he really followed, he gets a red card.
“It is so unwise, but it is a yellow. It does not have the intensity and violence [for a red].
“It can be much worse. That is what saved him.”
Incident: Immediately after scoring the equalizer, Nunez then won a penalty after a challenge from Will Smallbone.
Dermot says: “I think it's a penalty. If you make such a challenge, you have to get the ball and he doesn't.
“It's awkward. He catches the man.”
Brentford 0-1 Aston Villa
Incident: In Aston Villa's victory over Brentford, Thomas Frank found that his side should have had at least one penalty.
He was most convinced the first to Kevin damage, involved with Matty Cash and Axel Disasi.
At that time there was a challenge from Disasi for damage later in the game, which also remained unpunished.
Dermot says: “Because cash leads the ball [for the first incident]The referee gives a corner. He says he has cleared the ball.
“When the second villa player comes in, he thinks he has slipped against him, and Cash clearly leads the ball out for a corner. He does that before the collision [from Disasi].
“Disasi is lucky [for the second foul] Because it is really awkward.
“As soon as the attacker is in front, he is very smart. He has come over the defender and has the predominance. The defender has to withdraw.”
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City
Incident: Elliot Anderson wiped the ball away before Phil Foden could reach him and the Manchester City caught forward with a heavy challenge on the tibia. VAR rated the incident and no red card followed.
Dermot says: “He absolutely gets the ball; he catches Foden on his way.
“What can a player do? Players come in opposing directions, so it is inevitable that there will be a collision.”
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