Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher assesses the controversial moments from the festive motion, together with Joao Pedro’s “astonishing” red-card escape for an elbow in Brighton’s goalless house draw in opposition to Brentford.
Brighton 0-0 Brentford
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Brighton’s Pedro was cleared of a purple card by VAR after showing to swing an elbow in the direction of Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk
INCIDENT: Brighton ahead 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 might be astonished if anyone voted not purple card in your ballot.
“There is no such thing as a doubt in my thoughts that soccer expects a purple card there and referees going ahead have to be advised they have to make a stand and say this isn’t acceptable.
On retrospective motion: “He is acquired so fortunate as a result of the referee was ruled by the VAR, which checked for potential violent conduct and stated no as a result of he missed the participant and did not need to take evasive motion.
“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 focus on whether or not Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie ought to have acquired a purple card for his deal with on Fulham’s Antonee Robinson
INCIDENT: Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie was solely proven a yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, with the VAR agreeing with referee Rob Jones’ on-field resolution.
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 after which he connects with Robinson, that is why the referee gave him a yellow card on that foundation in order that’s why the VAR caught with it. Nevertheless it was not a pleasant deal with.”
Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
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Crystal Palace’s equaliser was not dominated out by VAR after Jean-Philippe Mateta appeared to push Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
INCIDENT: Trevoh Chalobah’s equaliser for Crystal Palace in opposition to Southampton goes to a VAR verify for a potential 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 not see how one can facet with one over the opposite. When you assume one’s a push then you have to say the opposite one’s a push.”
Motherwell 2-2 Rangers
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The Ref Watch panel focus on whether or not Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland was lucky to be given a foul after Motherwell scored from a nook
INCIDENT: Motherwell striker Tony Watt’s aim is dominated out for a foul on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland to forestall the house facet 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 livid his facet had a aim disallowed of their draw with Rangers
INCIDENT: Rangers thought Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ opening aim for Motherwell ought to have been dominated 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 feel his [Stamatelopoulos] arms are tucked in, the VAR [Steven McLean] stated not deliberate, so subsequently the sport goes on and he scores.”
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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership recreation between Motherwell and Rangers
INCIDENT: Motherwell’s Lennon Miller is barely proven a yellow card after a late deal with 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.
“That is the dilemma concerning the VAR as what’s the threshold to intervene, what’s a transparent and apparent error? The referee is there, he gave a yellow card they usually caught with it.”
