Ref Watch: Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic lucky to escape red card for late challenge on Everton’s Idrissa Gueye? | Football News

Dermot Gallagher dissects the big refereeing flashpoints from the weekend’s Premier League action.

Fulham 0-0 Everton

INCIDENT: Should Aleksandar Mitrovic have been sent off for a late challenge on Idrissa Gueye? Should the yellow have been upgraded to a red card?

VERDICT: Tough call, but yellow card correctly awarded.

DERMOT SAYS: I didn’t think this was a red card on Saturday. I still don’t. But there are a lot of people who do. He goes in, it doesn’t look nice. Both players are reaching for the ball. What helps Mitrovic is he comes from a short distance, he hasn’t got the momentum or intensity, therefore it lacks some impact. It’s a strong yellow card. Not a nice challenge but not enough for a red card.

Stephen Warnock: We’re split on this. I thought it was a genuine attempt to win the ball. Two players who are a fraction away from getting the ball. It’s one of those slightly mistimed tackles. I agree with Dermot.

Sue Smith: I thought it was a red card. Initially, I didn’t. But the more I watch it the more I think it is. It’s because of the position of the foot on Gueye’s leg. It was dangerous and I thought the referee was going to be sent to the monitor and would have given a red card. I was surprised.

Brentford 1-1 Wolves

INCIDENT: Diego Costa sent off for an off-the-ball confrontation with Ben Mee.

VERDICT: Correct decision.

DERMOT SAYS: That’s what the VAR is there for. If you look at the referee, he’s looking across the pitch. He can’t possibly see it. VAR spots it. You just can’t do that on a football field. The referee is following the ball, the ball is so far away from the incident. But that’s what VAR is for.

Newcastle 4-0 Aston Villa

INCIDENT: Ashley Young blocks Miguel Almiron’s attempted shot with an outstretched arm, leading to a penalty.

VERDICT: Correct decision.

DERMOT SAYS: The one thing referees have been really consistent on this year is if the arm is raised above the shoulder [inside the box] they are going to give a penalty. The arm is clearly up, it blocks the cross. Ninety-five per cent of the time this season it’s been penalised.

INCIDENT: Newcastle able to make six changes as Aston Villa employ use of concussion substitute after Emi Martinez is forced off with head injury.

VERDICT: Correct decision.

DERMOT SAYS: It’s all about the goalkeeper suffering a concussion. Each team is given five substitute cards. If you decide your team requires a concussion substitution, he effectively comes for free. To balance that out, the other team can use another substitute. Up to a maximum of two – so if you used two concussion subs the other team could use seven substitutes. Perfectly permissible.

Stephen Warnock: It’s almost like we need a rule where you take a player out for a period of time and assess them off the pitch. It seems like the initial assessment is okay and then we get to a period five or 10 minutes down the line and we see that player having to leave the pitch. It would be the best thing for the safety of players.

Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest

INCIDENT: Simon Hooper plays advantage as Arsenal break to score third goal.

VERDICT: Excellent use of advantage.

DERMOT SAYS: Confident, correct and very, very brave because the foul occurred on the edge of the other penalty area. Arsenal retain the ball and the ball ends up in the net eventually. Few people would realise that Simon has let play continue from 70 yards back. It’s where the referee plays a small part in keeping the game going. He looked really good for me.