Ref Watch: Arsene Wenger was wrong about Chelsea's opener, according to Dermot Gallagher
Monday 6 February 2017 16:16, UK
Ref Watch is back to debate another selection of controversial decisions from the weekend round of Premier League fixtures.
Former top-flight official Dermot Gallagher has been in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to give his view on a number of incidents from the latest round of Premier League games.
Dangerous tackles, controversial goals and touchline mayhem all feature in this week's edition....
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
INCIDENT: Marcos Alonso scores Chelsea's opening goal.
SCENARIO: Alonso and Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin both jumped to attack the ball in the six-yard box with the Chelsea man winning the battle and heading home. However, as he jumped, he caught Bellerin with his arm, knocking the full-back to the ground. Arsene Wenger called it a "100 per cent foul." The goal stood.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: They've both jumped with their arms in the air and both are focused on the ball. Alonso never looks at Bellerin once. It was natural contact. It would have been more of a surprise if it had been disallowed.
INCIDENT: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte celebrates Eden Hazard's magnificent solo goal, which made it 2-0.
SCENARIO: Conte rushed from the technical area and threw himself into the crowd, legs in the air, to celebrate with the home fans. "He's mad," said Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville as he watched the incident unfold. No action was taken.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I was thinking that if a player did that he would be yellow carded, so I had a look at the procedures. It says that Conte would get the stepping process, which means when he goes back to the technical area the fourth official would give him his first warning because it's the three stages. That means if Conte celebrated like that for all three of Chelsea's goals then he would've been dismissed.
Manchester City 2-1 Swansea
INCIDENT: Raheem Sterling is booked for simulation.
SCENARIO: The England international was found with a raking pass just before half-time in behind the Swansea defence and beat goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to the ball. His momentum made him fall to the ground after the goalkeeper had misjudged the ball - but there were no claims for a penalty by any City players. The play developed and came to nothing, but Dean brought the play back - maybe on the advice of his linesman - to card Sterling for apparent simulation.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong call. Not a dive, but not a penalty.
DERMOT SAYS: There are three decisions you can make: you can call it a foul, or a dive or say nothing. In this case, it wasn't a foul or a dive. I think the assistant gave it and they'd had been better off playing on. It's not a penalty and it's not a dive.
INCIDENT: Gabriel Jesus scores the winning goal for Manchester City.
SCENARIO: Although Swansea manager Paul Clement had no complaints with the goal, he pointed towards an incident by the dugout in the build-up, where substitute Luciano Narsingh was deemed to have fouled Aleksandar Kolarov and City took the free-kick from the position.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Has sympathy with Clement.
DERMOT SAYS: The assistant is up close to the play and he thinks it's a foul. I'll go with him on that. The free-kick is taken miles away from where the foul is and the ball, as Clement says, is moving. The assistant is still moving down the line, he'd have been better off staying where he was as he could've seen the incident.
Leicester City 0-3 Manchester United
INCIDENT: Juan Mata is booked for a late tackle on Jamie Vardy.
SCENARIO: With the game goalless after an uneventful opening 28 minutes, Mata, in an attempt to regain possession after giving the ball away cheaply, caught the Leicester striker high on his ankle with a late tackle.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Borderline, but understand why it's a yellow.
DERMOT SAYS: This is almost identical to James Milner's tackle on Victor Moses in the week. If he had been sent-off he wouldn't have been arguing. I think it's a right on the edge. The fact the tackle is low and he starts to pull out has saved him.
Watford 2-1 Burnley
INCIDENT: Jeff Hendrick is sent off for a tackle on Jose Holebas.
SCENARIO: In just the sixth minute, Watford were handed an early advantage as Hendrick was sent off for a high tackle on Holebas as he challenged for a ball in midfield.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision.
DERMOT SAYS: It's a red card because of the height of his boot. The referee has to be sure and by the look of his reaction he is pretty sure. Everybody that looked at it afterwards would say it's a fair shout.
Huddersfield 2-1 Leeds
INCIDENT: Opposing managers David Wagner and Garry Monk were both sent to the stands after being involved in an ugly confrontation.
SCENARIO: With the game at 1-1 and entering the final minute of the game at the John Smith's Stadium, Michael Hefele dramatically put the home side back in front. Huddersfield boss Wagner reacted to that last-gasp goal by sprinting the entire length of the touchline to celebrate with his own players, leading to a scuffle with his Leeds counterpart Monk on his way back to the dugout. Both managers were sent off.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I was glad I was watching this one and not refereeing! I felt for the referee as he'd refereed the game perfectly for 89 minutes and then he's got to sort this out. The only thing he could do is take advice and both managers were sent to the stands. The video will go to the FA this morning and they will take a look at it.
St Johnstone 2-5 Celtic
INCIDENT: Celtic are awarded a penalty.
SCENARIO: With the game at 2-1 to St Johnstone, Patrick Roberts dribbled past two defenders on the left before crossing into the middle. Keith Watson went to block the cross and a penalty was awarded for handball.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision
DERMOT SAYS: He's made no attempt to handle the ball. It's struck him at best. If it didn't strike his arm it would have hit his body and his arms into his body. So, no, it's not a penalty.
