Idman.biz
One of the most discussed incidents of the week in the English Premier League occurred in the 83rd minute of the match between Arsenal and Manchester City. The clash between Arsenal defender Gabriel and Erling Haaland, during which the Brazilian allegedly headbutted his opponent, has raised serious questions about the referee's decision.
Idman.Biz reports that the match referee Anthony Taylor assessed the episode with a yellow card, and Jon Brooks in the VAR room did not intervene in this decision.
Former elite-level referee Andy Davies commented on the episode within the rules as follows:
"According to the rules, using excessive force or brutality against an opponent when there is no challenge for the ball should be punished with a red card. However, if the referee considers the contact insignificant, he can assess it as "aggressive behaviour" and settle for a yellow card. Taylor acted with this logic and, although VAR did not fully agree with him, it supported the referee's decision."
According to the expert, Gabriel was lucky to finish the game without a red card:
"To be honest, Gabriel should have been sent off. His aggressive action against Haaland was an attempted act of violence. Regardless of the force of the contact or whether the opponent was injured, this action met the criteria for a red card. Haaland's staying on his feet gave Taylor a chance to manage the episode from a broader perspective, but this was a big risk for the referee."
