Ref Watch: Brighton forward Joao Pedro ‘astonishingly’ escapes red card for elbow against Brentford | Football News

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher takes stock of the controversial moments from the festive events, including Joao Pedro’s “astonishing” red card escape for an elbow in Brighton’s goalless draw at home to Brentford.

Brighton 0-0 Brentford

incident: Brighton striker Joao Pedro escaped punishment after elbowing Brentford player Yehor Yarmolyuk after he was booked for pulling the Brazilian’s shirt.

Dermot says: “I don’t know what to say! When I saw that, I expected him to leave, I actually did, and then I was told it was because he didn’t make any contact and the player didn’t have to take any evasive action.” .

“Well, you can read what you want, I think he got the best birthday present he could have, short of a red card.

“I would be surprised if anyone voted against the red card in your poll.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that football expects a red card there and the referees who come forward have to be told that they have to take a stand and say this is not acceptable.

In the retrospective procedure: “He was very lucky that the referee was VAR, who checked for any potential violent behavior and said no because he fouled the player and he didn’t have to take evasive action.

“That incident has been adjudicated and so it has been dealt with and closed.”

Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth

incident: Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie only received a yellow card for a two-footed challenge on Fulham left-back Anthony Robinson, with VAR approving of referee Rob Jones’ on-field decision.

Dermot says: “He got a lot of the ball, which saved him from getting a red card. If he hadn’t got any, there’s no doubt he would have been sent off.

“He made contact with the ball first and then with Robinson, and that’s why the referee gave him a yellow card on that basis, and that’s why the VAR stuck to the card. But it wasn’t a good tackle.”

Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton

incident: Trevo Chalupa’s equalizer for Crystal Palace against Southampton goes to a VAR check for a possible foul on Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Dermot says: “I actually think it’s a goal. When the ball arrives, it’s Ramsdale who pushes Jean-Philippe Mateta first.

“I can’t see how you can side with one over the other. If you think one is a push, you have to say the other is a push.”

Motherwell 2-2 Rangers

incident: Motherwell striker Tony Watt had a goal disallowed for a foul on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland to prevent the home side taking a 3-1 lead.

Dermot says: “It’s similar to Ramsdale, the only thing is his arm is in the air, is he holding it with his arm. Referee [Kevin Clancy] “He thinks so and he explodes early.”

incident: Rangers believed that Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’s opening goal for Motherwell should have been disallowed for handball.

Dermot says: “It’s really interesting – the ball hits the scorer’s arm, his arm is stuck in, so the question has to be: ‘Is that intentional?’ Because that’s all you can offer for him because he didn’t score from that, the ball went into the goal.” Another player [Tawanda Maswanhise] before he registered.

“I believe him [Stamatelopoulos] Weapons tucked into VAR [Steven McLean] “He said it was not intentional, so the game continues and he scores.”

incident: Motherwell’s Lennon Miller only received a yellow card after a late challenge on Rangers’ Oscar Curtis.

Dermot says:I looked at this and he gets the ball after the man, he gets the man first and that’s not a nice tackle – the only thing that saved him was the referee was very close, I don’t think he sees that as clearly as we do.

“This is the dilemma with VAR, what is the minimum intervention, what is a clear and obvious foul? The referee is there, he gives the yellow card and they stick to it.”