Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, is back to bring you the latest Ref Watch following a weekend full of incidents. This includes Manchester United’s controversial goal at Nottingham Forest from a corner. Nottingham Forest 2 Man UtdINCIDENT Man Utd scored their first goal following a controversial corner. Forest has complained about corners for the second consecutive week – why doesn’t VAR step in?
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Sean Dyche expresses frustration at VAR, after Manchester United scored from a corner when the ball appeared to still be in play
DERMOT SAYS : “Why is the referee making that judgement? I don’t understand, but if he didn’t see the ball and it did go out, I could understand, since he had two goalposts there.”He has a goalkeeper and he’s got [Nicolo] Savona is in front of him but he has made an incorrect judgment at 75-80 yards. You know, it is likely that he thought it had been cleared, but it wasn’t.I don’t think you will see it, “I feel, the referee.” If it had hit the line that way, you would not have given a goal.
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Casemiro converted a controversially-awarded corner against Nottingham Forest. Savona believed he had the ball in play but Darren England ruled it a corner
JAY BOTHROYD : “The ball is definitely not out and that the linesman made a judgement call from, say, about 70 yards. The referee’s position was better. I understand he has a slightly different perspective, but he was definitely closer.
“It is just too far for me to say.” It’s been two weeks since I saw this, so I thought, “Well there’s goalline technology.”
“Maybe they could use it across the entire byline but they couldn’t do it this year. But it’s definitely a rule they need to consider next year because it would cost teams in the end.”I believe you can examine that in ten seconds, and the issue will be resolved and there will not be any discussion. They have time to review the situation and make a final decision.”Should Amad’s equaliser have stood at Forest?
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Check out Amad Diallo’s incredible volley against Nottingham Forest during Manchester United’s 2-2 tie.
DERMOT SAYS “It hits his arm on its way through, but it is not a penalty. He is not penalised.”Is it deliberate? “Is it deliberate?
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Nottingham Forest’s match against Manchester United in the Premier League
Liverpool 2-0 Aston VillaINCIDENT : Amadou Oana grabbed Alexis Mac Allister in the throat by attacking a corner while Amadou was on the yellow card.
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Free to watch: Highlights from the Premier League match between Liverpool vs Aston Villa
DERMOT SAYS : “The pushing and shoving they did, and yes, he raised his hand, probably higher than what he wanted to, but it was pushing.”Stuart has to decide if it’s violent. Is it a brutal act? He replied, “No.’ He has obviously told the VAR about what he witnessed, and VAR has verified it. The referee stated that the only card was yellow.”JAY BOTTHOYD: As much as I love a physical sport, if you put your hand on my throat like that in the street, then I will react aggressively.”So, in this case, I say that that should be an automatic red card. Because Mac Allister cannot do that. Mac Allister made the best of his situation. He’s gone down, right? It’s likely because if the player reacts, they’ll also give him a red.”I think that he has gone down there and it is something the official should’ve picked up.”But I still think it’s aggressive because, as I said, if someone did that to you off the pitch, you would react aggressively or call HR.”Man City 3-1 BournemouthINCIDENT Gianluigi Donnarumma alleged that David Brooks held him as Bournemouth scored an equaliser at Man CityDERMOT SAYS : “I believed it was a score. I’ve watched refs approach the situation in a very different way. It’s not an effective punch. I don’t see much wrong with the forward.”
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Tyler Adams scores a goal for Bournemouth during their Premier League match against Manchester City
JAY BOTHROYD : “If you take a look at Donnarumma it doesn’t seem to be affecting him too much.When you look at the players in the box they are all nudging one another. There is contact. You know, there is contact. I can’t see why the keepers would want to add more protection when there are already 20 players.”He is six feet seven inches tall, and his height would be around nine feet. I don’t understand his complaint.He’s complaining that he punched it, but it was a bad blow and it resulted in a goal. It’s not a penalty. In this scenario, the referee made a fantastic decision.”He should command that area more. Guardiola was the only one I saw say that it was foul. What’s the word? It’s not a contact sport.”Brooks is not to blame. It’s good that the referees are consistent.”Spurs 0-1 Chelsea
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This edition of Ref Watch features Dermot Galagher and Jay Bothroyd as they examine the potential punishment that Rodrigo Bentancur could receive for his challenge to Reece James.
Rodrigo Bentancur is credited with a successful challenge of Reece James. VAR won’t bring him back after he’s been sent off. I believe it’s a red card rather than a yellow.”But I could understand the yellow in field. I think VAR will back the decision.”JAY BOTHROYD : “If it is a red, then I’m able to understand the reason for it. But after that I can also understand why it was a yellow. It is an aggressive challenge. It’s a challenge with an orange card.”Enzo Challenge ‘Definitely NOT A Red Card’
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Free to watch: Highlights of the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur (H) and Chelsea
Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea is only given a Yellow Card for his high-speed challenge against Tottenham midfielder Joao Pahinha.DERMOT SAYS “I don’t think this is an actual red card. His feet are up, and it’s a light blow. He hasn’t gone through him. He would have been in serious trouble if he had struck him in the face. But because he came in from a different angle, the contact or force was not enough to cause any damage.”JAY BOTHEROYD: I really like the decision made by the referee. Enzo tried to be honest and toe away the ball. His foot is clearly up as he does this, but it has also hit the side of Palhinha’s knee. In that case, the tackle is neither reckless nor high. When viewed from certain angles or at high speed, the ball appears to be red.”West Ham 3-2 NewcastleINCIDENTAL: West Ham’s penalty was overturned by VAR because it was determined Malick Thiaw touched the ball before Jarrod Bowen in their challenge.
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Jarrod Bowen’s penalty in West Ham’s Premier League game against Newcastle is reversed by VAR
DERMOT SAYS : “Yes [right decision made]But I’ll also admit that when I saw it, I thought penalty. So I can see why the referee was upset. [Robert Jones] The first penalty was awarded. After watching the first replay I knew I would get it wrong.”JAY BOTHROYD : “He’s not touched the ball sufficiently, the ball is not even changing speed. It is so minute, that it should have been given as a penality, this is a crazy choice.You cannot say that every time you touch the ball, it’s not a foul. “He blocked Bowen’s access to the ball so it is a penality!”The decision took more than three minutes – Was that too long?”DERMOT SAYS “It seemed to take a while and I don’t want any further intrusion. [by the VAR]It can be cleaner.”
2025-11-03 10:19:00
