Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has taken stock of controversial moments in the weekend’s game, including the decision not to award Newcastle a penalty for Trevor Chalobah’s challenge on Anthony Gordon.
Should Newcastle have been awarded a penalty against Chelsea?
Incident: Chelsea came from two points down against Newcastle on Saturday to draw 2-2. However, the decision was controversial as at 2-1 Newcastle believed they should have been penalized for a foul by Trevor Chalobah on Anthony Gordon.
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Free to watch: Premier League highlights between Newcastle and Chelsea
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: “It’s a foul anywhere on the pitch” and called it a “stone wall” penalty for his team. Is he right?
Dermot said: “I think it’s a penalty.
“He’s aggressive and far off the ball.
“He sees people, not the ball. He doesn’t have his eyes on the ball.
“I think it’s a penalty.”
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Mike Dean reacts after Newcastle are denied a penalty in their Premier League match against Chelsea
“Body check from Charova.”
Jay Bothroyd told Sky Sports News:
“They said Chalova was shielding the ball.
“That’s not what it means to protect the ball.
“Shielding the ball means preventing attackers from getting around you. What Chalova did was more of a body check.
“It should be a penalty. Elsewhere on the pitch it would be a free kick.
“The terminology used by VAR is not supported by footage.”
Should Everton have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal?
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Ref Watch takes a closer look at William Saliba’s challenge on Everton’s Tierno Barry and asks why VAR decided it wasn’t enough to award a penalty
Incident: Arsenal went 1-0 up against Everton, but things could have gone very differently had Everton been awarded a penalty after William Saliba appeared to kick Tierno Barry inside the penalty area after the striker had the ball first.
Referee Sam Ballot did not award a penalty and, after checking, VAR upheld the on-field ruling as insufficient contact.
Dermot said: “We have looked into our archives from this season and have not found any similar incidents where a penalty has been awarded.
“I think the referees were consistent.
“Both players go to kick the ball at the same time and Saliba catches Barry, there is no doubt about that.
“However, I have looked at the past 16 weeks and have not found a single similar incident in which a penalty has been awarded.
“They felt that contact was not enough and VAR felt the same way. It’s very difficult for VAR to award a penalty because it’s not an obvious mistake unless it’s given on the field.”
“Saliba was lucky to avoid the penalty.”
Jay Bothroyd told Sky Sports News:
“I thought it was a penalty.
“If the ball had fallen on the floor, it would have been considered a penalty.
“Even though the ball was high, he kicked the player, so it was a foul.”
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Free to watch: Highlights of the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal
Moïse: “Officials come up with new words for every decision”
Everton manager David Moyes said of the penalty call:
“I think they’re saying it was insignificant contact, and it may have been. It may be. They come up with new words for each decision, don’t they?”
Was it a clear mistake not to send Simmons first?
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Ref Watch takes a closer look at Xavi Simmons and Cristian Romero’s red cards against Liverpool
Incident: On Saturday Night Football, Spurs forward Xavi Simmons was ejected for a serious foul play. He was initially given a yellow card before a VAR check, but it was later upgraded to a red card.
Was it a clear mistake by referee John Brooks?
Dermot said: “I just want to be clear: I don’t think Symonds intended to do that, but he did it.
“Once you see the replay, you can’t go back.
“In modern football, if VAR decides that, you will always be given a red card.
“He’s unlucky, but he’ll always see red. He can’t take on that challenge anymore.”
“Law letter, it’s red.”
Jay Bothroyd told Sky Sports News:
“According to the letter of the law, it’s a red because he caught him high in the calf.
“But there is no doubt that he did not mean it.
“The players didn’t crowd around him, there were no big reactions or arguments.”
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Free to watch: Premier League highlights of Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
Was Romero fouled for Liverpool’s second goal?
Incident: Hugo Ekitike scores Liverpool’s second goal, but was there a foul on Cristian Romero by the Liverpool forward?
Ekitike appeared to have his hands on Romero’s back, but Spurs manager Thomas Frank thought the referee had made a big mistake.
Jay Bothroyd: “What happened here is very simple. Ekitike jumped in front of (Romero). He timed the fact that Frimpong went to cross and it deflected. The trajectory of the ball caused it to go up in the air and come back.”
“Because of that, Romero is under the ball. It’s difficult for Romero to jump up and then get on top of the ball or even back up.”
“Ekitike saw it. He jumps and his arms are there because he has to use leverage to jump. His arms are on his back a little bit, but it makes no sense to look at that and think he’s holding him down. Romero mistimed the flight of the ball and this is a great goal by Ekitike.”
Dermot said: “He’s not running him off (the road).”
Should Van de Ven have been punished for his challenge to Isaac?
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Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool but gets injured against Spurs
Incident: During Liverpool’s win over Tottenham, Alexander Isak was caught by Micky van de Ven as he scored the opening goal. Isak was substituted after being tackled, but reports indicate he suffered a broken leg.
Dermot said: “I don’t think he did anything that a footballer wouldn’t do. I would be surprised if he got a red card anywhere on the field.”
“Players always make mistime challenges. He’s a little behind… it’s not a red card. Whether it’s in the penalty area, in the D area, in the center circle or in the other half.”
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Tim Sherwood speaks out on whether Alexander Isak’s injury will impact Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League
“Van de Ven is out of control.”
Jay Bothroyd told Sky Sports News:
“Van de Ven was not intentionally trying to hurt Isak. He was clearly trying to prevent a goal and was trying to stop the shot.”
“This is an example where Isak did score a goal, but it should still be a red card. He’s lunging, he’s trying to ram his body. That’s all the explanation you want to give for a red card challenge. He scored a goal, so they allowed it.”
Alexander Isak receives medical assistance after scoring Liverpool’s opening goal (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
“He’s charging, he’s out of control. He’s trying to make a block, but he’s never going to get there. If it’s in the middle of the park, it’s a red card.”
“When you block, you’re blocking in front of the player, not inside the player.
“I’m not saying he’s going to hurt him, but it’s going to end up skating in front of him. He lost control and flew out. He broke his leg. Certainly, that speaks to the power that was there.”
