Ex-Premier League referee says Gabriel was 'lucky' not be sent off vs Man City

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said Gabriel Magalhaes was 'lucky' to avoid a red card during Man City's win over Arsenal

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has described it as a "fair outcome" that Gabriel Magalhaes escaped a red card following a clash with Erling Haaland. The Arsenal centre-back and Manchester City striker both received bookings after a heated exchange during Sunday afternoon's top-flight clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Gabriel appeared to push his head towards Haaland during the incident, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to brandish yellow cards to both players.

Pep Guardiola was also shown a yellow card for his protests over the decision, with VAR subsequently backing the on-field call to book Gabriel.

Gallagher appeared on Sky Sports' Ref Watch on Monday, where the former referee offered his assessment of the decision.

He outlined why it was the correct call not to dismiss Gabriel, while acknowledging that the Arsenal defender was "lucky" to avoid being sent off, reports the Mirror.

“It was a very fair outcome, both of them were aggressive, throughout the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake,” Gallagher said.

“Gabriel is very unwise what he does, it is not the cleverest thing to do and he runs a risk, but if you look, he actually goes does the front of him and not through him, he does not headbutt him.

“But he is very, very lucky that Haaland was very, very responsible because if he hits the deck, the whole landscape changes and the referee has a different situation to deal with.”

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Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd disagreed with Gallagher and outlined why he believes Gabriel should have been dismissed for the clash with Haaland.

“Gabriel was lucky - when we look at the rules, it is violent conduct if you put your head into someone's face, that was violent conduct and we have seen other people get sent off for that kind of movement towards someone's head,” Bothroyd said.

“What Haaland said is absolutely right - if he goes down holding his face there, he is going to get a red card and then he is banned for three matches.”

The verdicts follow former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer's criticism of VAR's decision not to step in and award Gabriel a red card.

“The VAR sent the referee to the screen last week in the Man United game [vs Leeds] for a tiny tug of the hair, if anything, and [Lisandro] Martinez is sent off for violent conduct,” Shearer said on the Rest is Football podcast.

“Yet you look at Gabriel, who shoved his head into Haaland’s head, how on earth is that not a red card? Seriously, what is going on in our game with VAR?

“My take on it is that they [VAR] probably said, 'We don’t really want to get involved in the title race, and we might not be seen sending someone else off.’

“I think Haaland has done Gabriel a favour by not going to the ground, because so many other players would have gone to the ground when he stuck his head into his. Clear red card it should have been.”