A Premier League assertion revealed why VAR caught with the referee’s choice to not ship off Brighton’s Joao Pedro after he appeared to attempt to elbow Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk… however do you agree?
Pedro prevented any punishment after he and Yarmolyuk turned embroiled in a scuffle throughout the Seagulls’ goalless draw with the Bees.
Yarmolyuk, who had simply come on as an alternative, prevented a Brighton breakaway by pulling Pedro’s shirt. The Brighton ahead responded by throwing his proper elbow within the route of the defender’s face however missed.
Referee Andy Madley stopped play to provide Yarmolyuk a yellow card however was instructed by VAR Chris Kavanagh to delay play whereas the incident was checked. Regardless of replays confirming Pedro had thrown his elbow in Yarmolyuk’s route, it was not deemed a crimson card offence.
The Premier League Match Centre on X launched a proof as to why Pedro prevented a warning: “The referee’s call of no red card to Joao Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clear and obviously wrong.”
Ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg instructed Amazon Prime that Pedro rightly prevented a crimson card as he had not made contact with Yarmolyuk.
“If we look at the laws of the game as it’s written, it has to be to strike an opponent or attempt to strike an opponent,” stated Clattenburg.
“Because there was no contact he can’t be sent off the field of play for the contact. Therefore, it’s whether he attempted to strike the opponent. The more I look at it, because it’s an unusual action, especially from behind he is looking towards Andy Madley when he swings his arm. He keeps his arm quite close to his body and I think it’s more of a gesture to the referee.
“Andy Madley is in an excellent place. He could not have been despatched off for the contact however he might have been despatched off for the tried contact. I consider it is a gesture greater than an tried strike.
“I think Joao Pedro makes a gesture to the referee but if he wanted to swing and use brutality he would have swung his arm out and created contact.”
Joao Pedro’s tried elbow was checked by VAR
After the sport, Brentford boss Thomas Frank expressed his confusion on the choice suggesting Pedro ought to have been despatched off for the try.
“As I understand the rules, you can’t swing your arm to try and hit someone,” Frank stated.
“Whether you hit them or not, it’s a red, that’s how we understand the rules.”
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler took a special view, rejecting the notion the incident warranted a sending off.
“For me, it’s not a red card,” Hurzeler stated after the sport.
“He tried to get free from a personal duel.”
