Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher Review Controversial Premier League Incidents

Premier League Controversies Analyzed: Dermot Gallagher's Insights

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher is back to assess the controversial moments from the weekend's matches. From penalty decisions to player misconduct, Gallagher shares his expert opinion on key incidents that stirred debates among fans and analysts alike.

Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest

One of the most talked-about incidents involved a tussle between Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams and Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, leading to a near-altercation. Williams pushed Cucurella into Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, prompting a melee on the pitch.

DERMOT SAYS: "When you see that situation, you pick out what you can with your colleagues and VAR. If there's anything left, the FA will intervene afterwards." Both Williams and Cucurella received bookings, along with Levi Colwill.

Everton 0-0 Newcastle

In this match, a significant VAR intervention occurred when a penalty was awarded to Newcastle due to James Tarkowski's foul on Sandro Tonali, missed by the referee during the match.

DERMOT SAYS: "If you wrestle somebody to the ground like this and the VAR spots it, you cannot unsee that as an official." In contrast, Dominic Calvert-Lewin believed he deserved a penalty after a challenge with Dan Burn, but VAR upheld the referee’s decision.

Stephen Warnock on Sky Sports News commented: "Dan Burn doesn't touch the ball. It's a very bizarre decision." This reflection highlights the ongoing debate around VAR's role in crucial match decisions.

Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United

The match witnessed a heated moment when Marcus Rashford, already on a yellow card, fouled Leon Bailey. Many questioned whether Rashford should have been sent off.

DERMOT SAYS: "What saves him is Dalot, who comes and sweeps the ball up. The argument is he's not breaking a promising attack." His comments suggest that context matters when determining the severity of a foul.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool

A controversial moment arose when Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi was pulled down by Virgil van Dijk in the box. The question remains whether this should have been awarded as a penalty.

DERMOT SAYS: "Two things they'd worked on this season is that it’s got to be sustained holding, and it’s got to have impact. They felt that it had no impact because it wouldn’t go to Guehi." Nevertheless, Warnock mentioned: "Guehi has been held. But does he get to the ball?" This highlights the subjective nature of penalty decisions.

Arsenal 3-1 Southampton

Another key incident was during Arsenal's match, specifically Gabriel Martinelli's goal. There was concern about Mikel Merino's involvement, as he was in an offside position when the goal was scored.

DERMOT SAYS: "Merino can't ever play the ball; it's so far above him. It’s quite rightly given as a goal." This emphasizes the importance of offside rules in determining goal validity.

Portsmouth 1-1 Oxford: Serious Off-field Incident

In a serious off-field incident during the EFL match, a referee paused the game to address an alleged discriminatory comment made from the stands.

DERMOT SAYS: "This is totally out of order. You can't have this. Zero tolerance. Once it’s reported to the referee, he goes to see the match commander. If they can identify the area and contain it, hopefully, that will solve the issue. If not, the situation may escalate to the point where the game could be abandoned, which is the last resort." This highlights the importance of maintaining respect and discipline on the field.

Conclusion

These highlights from the Premier League show the critical role of referees and VAR in ensuring the fairness of matches. As controversies continue to arise, Gallagher’s insights offer valuable perspectives on how decisions are made and their impact on the game.

Stay tuned for more analyses and updates from the Premier League weekend action!