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Gabriel Red Card Blunder: Premier League Panel Rebukes Referee
1 May
Summary
- Panel ruled Gabriel's headbutt warranted a red card, not just a yellow.
- VAR's decision not to intervene was deemed incorrect by some panellists.
- The incident occurred during a crucial title race match in April.
An independent Premier League panel has concluded that Arsenal defender Gabriel committed a red card offense during a crucial match against Manchester City in April. The incident involved a head-to-head confrontation with striker Erling Haaland, after which Gabriel appeared to push Haaland with his head. Referee Anthony Taylor issued both players yellow cards, a decision supported by VAR official John Brooks at the time.
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, established in the 2022-23 season, reviewed the event. Sources indicate a majority of 3:2 determined Gabriel's actions constituted violent conduct, meriting a red card due to his head movement. While one panelist felt VAR should have intervened for a clear error, the majority deemed the decision not to escalate it correct.
The match itself was pivotal in the title race, with Manchester City securing a 2-1 victory. This win narrowed the gap to league leaders Arsenal to three points. The loss followed a previous defeat for Arsenal, impacting their nine-point lead. Both teams are currently competing in their respective league campaigns and, in Arsenal's case, the Champions League semi-finals.
