Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher rates the controversial moments from the weekend's action, including Jordan Pickford's rash challenge on Malo Gusto and Pervis Estupinan's lucky escape at West Ham.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
INCIDENT: Jordan Pickford avoided any action after diving at the feet of Malo Gusto during the first half of Everton's 0-0 draw with Chelsea. Referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Graham Scott felt Pickford had not seriously endangered his opponent.
DERMOT SAYS: I wonder if the referee was in the best position to see that. Pickford has chosen not to be a goalkeeper here, but a field player. If a full-back takes up that challenge, he gives away a penalty.
He jumps through the air, the only reason he gets the ball is because he hits his backside on the way. He doesn't get the ball, the ball deflects away from him.
SUE SMITH SAYS: Gusto is doing him a favor. It's at least a penalty, if not a red card. It's dangerous and he doesn't touch the ball with his feet. If you run out that quickly, you have to win the ball. The fact that he doesn't doesn't make him a happy boy.
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: Pickford twists his body. He turns away from it. For me, you are putting a player in enormous danger here. If you start hitting the ball at high speed and running towards me… if I kick through you, I'll break my leg. I think it's a very dangerous challenge from Pickford. He's out of control.
INCIDENT: A tangle of legs in the penalty area between Axel Disasi and James Tarkowski sees the Everton defender go down in the box. Tarkowski reacts angrily after Disasi appears to make contact with his head while he is on the ground.
DERMOT SAYS: Is it a red card? No, I don't think so. Players get sucked into the moment and give the referee a decision, but I think the referee rightly withdrew. Me, that's the best solution. A red card must be for violence, we cannot hand out red cards like confetti.
SUE SMITH SAYS: I don't think it's a red card and I don't think it's a penalty either. It's more of an annoyance. It's not enough for a red card.
West Ham 1-1 Brighton
INCIDENT: One of the biggest talking points in the Premier League took place at the London Stadium, with referee Rob Jones in charge. But should Brighton have been shown a red card for Pervis Estupinan's two-footed tackle on Max Kilman? Jones gave a yellow card and the VAR agreed with him.
DERMOT SAYS: I think it's a red card. He's flying through the air, he's out of control. It catches him high, catches him with full force with his studs.
SUE SMITH SAYS: It's a red card. I thought it was a strong yellow color at the time, but I winced when I first saw it, so I probably should have gone with my first instinct because when I saw it again he was out of control.
It's the intensity with which he goes and it's with both feet. He connects with Kilman, so it's red. I'm really surprised that the VAR didn't recommend him to go to the screen.
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: I thought it was a red card. Rob Jones was involved in the match but the person in VAR wasn't caught up in the emotion of the match and should have told him it was red.
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth
INCIDENT: Manchester United protested against the awarding of a free kick from which Bournemouth scored the opening goal. Tyrell Malacia was the player involved and Craig Pawson the referee, but was it a foul?
DERMOT SAYS: The assistant referee is closest to it and he thought it was a foul. He is the one who identifies the mistake and does well to get out of the way.
Because it's off the field, you still can't tackle like that. He's on the line, so it's still a foul. The only reason we're talking about it is because Bournemouth are scoring. We talk about it because of the consequences.
INCIDENT: Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in the second half after Noussair Mazraoui's challenge on Justin Kluivert. United wanted offside in the build-up to the tackle.
DERMOT SAYS: He doesn't get the ball. It's heaven sent for a referee, if you're going to give a penalty, you want it to be in such a way that no one really has a problem with it.
Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool
INCIDENT: Tottenham vs Liverpool was refereed by Sam Barrott and he waved at Spurs appeals for an early penalty for Trent Alexander-Arnold's challenge on James Maddison.
DERMOT SAYS: I think he's using his body strength. Is it a fine? Not for me. The referee whistled Gillingham vs Leicester two years ago. I had a feeling this man would go a long, long way. He's progressing faster than I ever imagined. He is the most talented referee to come to the Premier League in the last two years. It's not a fine.
INCIDENT: Virgil van Dijk felt a foul had been committed on Alexis Mac Allister in the build-up to James Maddison's goal for Tottenham.
DERMOT SAYS: I think Dejan Kulusevski has stood on his own foot. It's not a foul, but again the referee has the perfect position because he's looking straight at it.
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal
INCIDENT: At Selhurst Park, Nathaniel Clyne was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Ricardo Calafiori by referee Simon Hooper. Could he have gotten a red card?
DERMOT SAYS: I think what saves him is that he comes from close range. Estupinan is coming through the air and is out of control. In this case he is not building momentum and pace, so I think a yellow card is the right decision.
SUE SMITH SAYS: Yeah, it hits him on the ankle and it's painful, but I think yellow.
Motherwell 1-1 Kilmarnock
INCIDENT: Now the Scottish Premier League red card controversy, which Aston Villa skipper John McGinn – whose brother plays for Motherwell – called the 'worst decision' he has ever seen.
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says he is “fed up” with referees after Dan Casey was sent off by Chris Graham for an altercation with Kilmarnock's Danny Armstrong, despite being told by VAR to review the decision.
DERMOT SAYS: I don't think it's a red card at all. The VAR rightly warned him to stop by and check.
But what they didn't do well then is they showed it in slow motion and showed the end of it, so they don't show him catching him halfway through the chest. It looks like he grabbed his throat, I don't think so.
INCIDENT: Kilmarnock were furious that Graham did not award them a penalty after Andy Halliday caught Brad Lyons' foot. Were they right to be angry? Was it a fine?
DERMOT SAYS: I think this is a very interesting decision because if you watch the replay, the attacker plays the ball, he gets there first and then the defender steps on his foot to knock him over. Conversely, it is certainly not a violation.
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: I'm amazed. This is a case of VAR failing them and not intervening. The whole process of that game will be judged by Martin Atkinson. I'm sure he'll say there's still a lot of work to be done.
Tranmere 2-2 Morecambe
INCIDENT: Tranmere Rovers' Jordan Turnbull had his trousers pulled down – quite literally – when Patrick Kelly ran through and scored for Doncaster.
DERMOT SAYS: It's a mystery why it was allowed to remain. Just give a free kick, everyone would accept that, right?
SUE SMITH SAYS: You can see him trying to pull his shorts back up before doing the challenge, but yes, it has to be a free kick.
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: It's unbelievable how it's missed by everyone, even the fourth official and the assistants. I'm sure someone will notice that and say you missed that. It's a bad decision.
Comments