Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher assesses the controversial moments from the festive action, including Joao Pedro’s “astonishing” red-card escape for an elbow in Brighton’s goalless home draw against Brentford.
Brighton 0-0 Brentford
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Brighton’s Pedro was cleared of a red card by VAR after appearing to swing an elbow towards Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk
INCIDENT: Brighton forward Joao Pedro escapes punishment for swinging an elbow at Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk after he was cautioned for pulling the Brazilian’s shirt.
DERMOT SAYS: “I don’t know what to say! When I saw it, I expected him to go, I really did, and then I was told it was because he did not make any contact and the player didn’t have to take evasive action.
“Well, you can read what you want – I think he has had the best Christmas present he could ever have, not having a red card.
“I would be astonished if anybody voted not red card in your poll.
“There is no doubt in my mind that football expects a red card there and referees going forward need to be told they’ve got to make a stand and say this is not acceptable.
On retrospective action: “He’s got so lucky because the referee was governed by the VAR, which checked for possible violent conduct and said no because he missed the player and didn’t have to take evasive action.
“He’s judged that incident so therefore it’s dealt with and closed.”
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth
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The Ref Watch panel discuss whether Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie should have received a red card for his tackle on Fulham’s Antonee Robinson
INCIDENT: Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie was only shown a yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, with the VAR agreeing with referee Rob Jones’ on-field decision.
DERMOT SAYS: “He got a lot of the ball, which saved him from getting a red card – if he had not got any of the ball, he would have no doubt been sent off.
“He connects with the ball first and then he connects with Robinson, that’s why the referee gave him a yellow card on that basis so that’s why the VAR stuck with it. But it was not a nice tackle.”
Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
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Crystal Palace’s equaliser was not ruled out by VAR after Jean-Philippe Mateta appeared to push Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
INCIDENT: Trevoh Chalobah’s equaliser for Crystal Palace against Southampton goes to a VAR check for a possible foul on Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
DERMOT SAYS: “I actually think it’s a goal. When the ball comes across, it is Ramsdale who actually pushes Jean-Philippe Mateta first.
“I can’t see how you can side with one over the other. If you think one’s a push then you’ve got to say the other one’s a push.”
Motherwell 2-2 Rangers
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The Ref Watch panel discuss whether Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland was fortunate to be given a foul after Motherwell scored from a corner
INCIDENT: Motherwell striker Tony Watt’s goal is ruled out for a foul on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland to prevent the home side from going 3-1 up.
DERMOT SAYS: “It is similar to the Ramsdale one, the only thing is his arm’s in the air, does he catch him on the arm. The referee [Kevin Clancy] thinks so as he blows early.”
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Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell was left furious his side had a goal disallowed in their draw with Rangers
INCIDENT: Rangers thought Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ opening goal for Motherwell should have been ruled out for handball.
DERMOT SAYS: “It is really intriguing – the ball strikes the goalscorer’s arm, his arm’s tucked in, so the question has to be: Is it deliberate? Because that is all you can give it for as he did not score from that, the ball went to another player [Tawanda Maswanhise] before he scored.
“I think his [Stamatelopoulos] arms are tucked in, the VAR [Steven McLean] said not deliberate, so therefore the game goes on and he scores.”
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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership game between Motherwell and Rangers
INCIDENT: Motherwell’s Lennon Miller is only shown a yellow card after a late tackle on Rangers’ Oscar Cortes.
DERMOT SAYS: “I looked at this and he gets the ball after the man, he gets the man first and it is not a nice tackle – the only thing that saves him is the referee is too close, I do not think he sees it as clearly as we do.
“This is the dilemma about the VAR as what is the threshold to intervene, what is a clear and obvious error? The referee is there, he gave a yellow card and they stuck with it.”
