Arsenal handed remaining verdict as Premier League panel unanimously agree on purple card determination
The Premier League Key Match Incidents panel have unanimously backed the decision not to send off Gabriel Magalhaes for his challenge on Emi Martinez during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea
Gabriel wasn’t sent off for the kick(Image: Sky Sports)
The Premier League Key Match Incidents panel have unanimously backed the decision not to send off Gabriel Magalhaes after he booted Emi Martinez in the face.
Chris Kavanagh, and his Video Assistant Referee team, decided not award the Brazilian with a red card during the Gunners’ 2-1 triumph win over Chelsea earlier this month, though the fixture wasn’t short of contentious moments.
Arsenal witnessed Riccardo Calafiori’s effort ruled out for offside, while Kai Havertz’s equaliser was allowed to stand despite a tight offside decision. Both verdicts also gained unanimous 5:0 support from the panel.
The panel did not believe that Gabriel deserved a red card(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Yet Gabriel’s tackle on Martinez might have been the most polarising incident of the encounter. With Chelsea still ahead through Morgan Rogers’ opener, Martinez tried to collect a low free kick from Martin Odegaard.
Battling for possession, Gabriel caught the Chelsea shot-stopper in the face as he swung a boot towards the ball. The ball then slipped from the Argentine’s hands, but no sanction followed despite appeals from Reece James and Joao Pedro.
Martinez held his head and received medical attention but managed to carry on, reports the Mirror.
VAR opted against directing Kavanagh to the monitor to examine the incident, and the KMI panel have now concluded that was the correct decision. The panel consists of three former players or managers, one delegate from the Premier League, and one from Pro Ref (Professional Game Referees).
They also released the following statement: “The panel unanimously supported the referee’s call of no red card. Multiple players were on the ground competing and challenging for the loose ball, and the action of Gabriel was not deemed to be an act of violent conduct or serious foul play.”
While that panel was united in backing Kavanagh, the verdict may surprise Wayne Rooney, who suggested on Match of the Day that Gabriel was ‘extremely lucky’ to avoid dismissal.
“Martinez has got the ball, and he [Gabriel] boots him on the head,” Rooney said. “He’s got the ball in two hands, way over the top of the ball, and he boots him in the head, so I think he’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch.”
