Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher is back with the latest Ref Watch after an incident-filled weekend that saw Manchester City avoid another red card following Bernardo Silva’s “reckless” challenge on Dan Byrne.
Silva escapes from Red with ‘reckless’ challenge against Byrne
Incident: Bernardo Silva avoids a red card with a second yellow after a challenge on Dan Byrne. Silva was booked and stormed into Byrne less than a minute later.
Dermot said: “He takes chances there. It’s a reckless challenge. He doesn’t see the ball. The ball isn’t there.”
Jay Bothroyd: “The referee looked at the situation and thought Silva couldn’t hurt Byrne! If it had been Haaland he would have gotten a yellow card.
“The fact that he’s a small guy is why he saw it and didn’t think it was a yellow card.”
Silva avoided a red point and City won the match 2-1, keeping their Premier League title hopes alive. The incident is the latest in a series of decisions by Josep Guardiola’s side to avoid sending off this season.
Here, Sky Sports highlights other recent incidents involving City…
Foden avoids red card against Fulham
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Ref Watch analyzes Phil Foden’s challenge on Calvin Bassey, which saw the Man City midfielder receive a yellow card
Incident: Man City’s Phil Foden was only booked for his tackle on Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
Dermot: “I think it’s a red card. He didn’t mean to do that, but he actually caught him on the wrong foot. He tried to take him on the other foot and Bassey accelerated away so he caught his left ankle with the studs. He was really, really lucky.”
Dias should have been sent off against Forest.
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Ref Watch takes a closer look at Ruben Dias’ challenge on Igor Jesus and explains why it should have been a second yellow card for the Manchester City player
Incident: Ruben Dias avoided a second yellow card in December after being penalized by referee Rob Jones for a foul on Igor Jesus 18 seconds into the second half.
Dermot: “I feel bad for him (Sean Dyche). I think it was the second yellow card. Dias brings him down.
“It doesn’t matter whether it was an accident or not. That was my second yellow card.”
Jay Bothroyd: Elsewhere on the field, this is a fortuitous challenge. I don’t think they should have given a yellow card, but coach Dermot explained that they were able to stop a promising attack.
I understand that part now. It was a promising attack, so he should have received a yellow card. Sean Dyche is right.
Rodri was not sent off against Spurs.
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Was Rodri lucky to avoid a second yellow card during Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur? Take a look at the two incidents and hear what Gary Neville and the Ref Watch committee decided about both.
Incident: Rodri commits two fouls against Tottenham after being booked – should he have been shown a second yellow card?
Dermot: “Rodri is really, really lucky. Then his manager subbed him in.”
Jamie O’Hara: “That’s proof for the referee and everyone on the pitch (that Rodri came on as a substitute).
He should have been sent off. Conor Gallagher was given a yellow card. ”
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Ref Watch covers other important happenings across the top flight.
Byrne ‘unlucky’ as Newcastle goal canceled due to push by Dias
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Jay Bothroyd praised the experience of Man City’s Ruben Dias and his “great play” as he forced Newcastle’s Dan Byrne into an offside position when the Magpies defender headed the ball into the net, leading to a disallowed goal.
Incident: Newcastle’s Dan Byrne scores a goal, but the goal is ruled out for offside despite being pushed in by Ruben Dias.
Dermott said: “Diaz committed the foul before the ball was in play so he won’t be penalized. It’s unfortunate.”
Jay Bothroyd: “I think it’s a great play by Diaz. That’s the experience.”
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Manchester City’s Ruben Dias pushes Newcastle United’s Dan Byrne into an offside position just before the defender takes a header.
Should Hall’s goal have been ruled out for offside?
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Watch for free: Premier League highlights of Manchester City vs. Newcastle
Incident: Lewis Hall’s goal against Newcastle may have been offside as Joe Willock may have interfered with play within sight of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Dermot: “This is the most difficult part of interpreting offside. The assistant will say Willock is in an offside position. The referee will say he can see the line of sight, but it’s not in the goalkeeper’s line of sight. The goalkeeper has a good view of the ball.”
Jay Bothroyd: “I don’t think the goalkeeper sees the ball very well at all. Willock is there and he’s the closest player to him. With Willock and the other players there, he can’t see the ball coming. He had to move late. I think Willock is getting in the way.”
Did Kolo Muani’s goal get judged correctly, or did Gabriel “cheat” the referee?
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On Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd discuss Randall Kolo Muani’s canceled goal at Spurs, when he allegedly pushed Arsenal’s Gabriel just before the strike.
Incident: Goal canceled after Randal Kolo Muani pushes Gabriel in the box.
Dermot said: “The referee makes the decision. The decision on the field is always valid and the referee thinks there is enough pressure. VAR will never say the referee is wrong because the evidence is there.”
Jay Bothroyd: “I thought it was really soft. When I saw the trajectory of the ball, Gabriel was under the ball and I realized I was in that position.”
“It’s not enough to react like he did. He fooled the referee.”
