Gabriel at centre of disagreement as ex-Premier League ref gives surprising verdict

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes it was a “fair outcome” that Gabriel Magalhaes was not sent off following a clash of heads with Erling Haaland . The Arsenal defender and Manchester City striker were both booked following a heated exchange in the top-flight fixture on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad Stadium.

Gabriel appeared to push his head towards Haaland during the clash, with referee Anthony Taylor issuing yellow cards to both players.

Pep Guardiola was shown a yellow card of his own following the decision for his protests, with VAR confirming the on-field call of a booking for Gabriel.

Gallagher appeared on Sky Sports ’ Ref Watch on Monday, where the former referee gave his verdict on the incident.

He explained why it was the right decision not to send off Gabriel, but believes the Arsenal defender was “lucky” not to be given his marching orders.

“It was a very fair outcome, both of them were aggressive, throughout the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake,” Gallagher said.

“Gabriel is very unwise what he does, it is not the cleverest thing to do and he runs a risk, but if you look, he actually goes does the front of him and not through him, he does not headbutt him.

“But he is very, very lucky that Haaland was very, very responsible because if he hits the deck, the whole landscape changes and the referee has a different situation to deal with.”

Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd disagreed with Gallagher and explained why he thinks Gabriel should have been sent off for the clash with Haaland.

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“Gabriel was lucky - when we look at the rules, it is violent conduct if you put your head into someone's face, that was violent conduct and we have seen other people get sent off for that kind of movement towards someone's head,” Bothroyd said.

“What Haaland said is absolutely right - if he goes down holding his face there, he is going to get a red card and then he is banned for three matches.”

The verdicts come after former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer gave a critical verdict of VAR’s decision not to intervene and hand Gabriel a red card.

“The VAR sent the referee to the screen last week in the Man United game [vs Leeds] for a tiny tug of the hair, if anything, and [Lisandro] Martinez is sent off for violent conduct,” Shearer said on the Rest is Football podcast.

“Yet you look at Gabriel, who shoved his head into Haaland’s head, how on earth is that not a red card? Seriously, what is going on in our game with VAR?

“My take on it is that they [VAR] probably said, 'We don’t really want to get involved in the title race, and we might not be seen sending someone else off.’

“I think Haaland has done Gabriel a favour by not going to the ground, because so many other players would have gone to the ground when he stuck his head into his.

“Clear red card it should have been.”

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