Monday 24 August 2015 21:13, UK
Dermot Gallagher says referee Mark Clattenburg was "100 per cent correct" to show John Terry a red card and not award West Bromwich Albion a penalty during Chelsea's 3-2 victory at the Hawthorns on Sunday.
Former ref Gallagher, who joined Rob Wotton at Sky Sports News HQ to discuss the major decisions from another action-packed weekend of football, also praised the team work of the officials in ensuring the "correct decision" was made in a match where the champions would ultimately claim their first three points of the season.
Red card: John Terry (Chelsea) v West Bromwich Albion
SCENARIO: West Brom forward Salomon Rondon beat Terry for pace after a ball forward from Chris Brunt split the Chelsea defence. With only Thibaut Courtois to beat, Rondon was hauled down by Terry just outside the 18-yard box, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity.
REFEREE DECISION: Terry shown a red card by Clattenburg and West Brom awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty box.
DERMOT SAYS: It's a foul. It's a great spot from the referee and when you see it again, he (Terry) actually grabs hold of his arm and lets it go just before they get into the penalty area. It is also good team work because it is not a penalty. So between them, they've got it all right. Rondon's arm is being held. It's just outside the penalty area and it's a foul, there's no doubt about it. So between the officials, they have got it 100 per cent correct.
Disallowed goal: James McArthur (Crystal Palace) v Aston Villa
SCENARIO: Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle collected the ball in the penalty box, shifted it onto his right foot before shooting towards goal. His effort took a deflection of team-mate McArthur - standing in an offside position - and beat Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
REFEREE DECISION: After initially awarding the goal, Keith Stroud consulted with his assistant referee and reversed his decision.
DERMOT SAYS: Between them, they've got it absolutely right. The assistant, Peter Kirkup, doesn't know the ball has touched McArthur. When you see it go in, the referee knows it's a goal because he's looked across and not seen any flag, so he gives the goal. The assistant may then alert him and say we need to talk here to discuss McArthur being stood in an offside position. That is not an offence, but if that ball has touched him it's offside.
When the ball hits him, Kirkup doesn't know. But he knows he's in an offside position. But what I thought was really good - once he alerted the referee - is that they went and spoke. They didn't just speak over communication; the referee has gone across and spoken about it. It's the perfect package - if you were teaching anyone to referee, that's how to communicate.
Penalty appeal: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) v Tottenham
SCENARIO: Leicester winger Mahrez receives a pass in the penalty box and holds the ball up while being marked closely by Jan Vertonghen. The Tottenham defender, in his attempts to prevent a goalscoring opportunity for Leicester, grabs hold of Mahrez's shirt before making a challenge, bringing down Mahrez.
REFEREE DECISION: Martin Atkinson does not award Leicester a penalty and play continues.
DERMOT SAYS: I think the referee is actually right to play on. From the referee's view, he sees Mahrez grab hold of Vertonghen's shirt. Without a doubt, Vertonghen has also got a hold of Mahrez's shirt. I think he sees the situation as six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Both players are pushing and shoving. In this case, whichever way the referee goes he's going to be wrong. If he gives a free-kick to the defender, he'll then be blamed. With both players at it, the ball is cleared upfield and you're best off continuing play.
Red card: Carl Jenkinson (West Ham) v Bournemouth
SCENARIO: West Ham defender Jenkinson is closed down and dispossessed by Max Gradel. The Bournemouth winger bears down on goal before being pulled back in the penalty box by Jenkinson in his attempts to recover from his previous error.
REFEREE DECISION: Jonathan Moss awards Bournemouth a penalty and brandishes a red card to Jenkinson.
DERMOT SAYS: It's the correct decision. It's a foul; therefore it's a penalty and a red card. In this situation he's (Gradel) got possession of the ball. It is only running away from him because he's been fouled. The law says he's got to be in control of the ball or able to control it. In this instance, the ball is close enough to him and his next movement would be towards goal. I'm also sure the covering defender would not catch him.
Potential red card: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff) v Wolverhampton Wanderers
SCENARIO: Kagisho Dikgacoi, in his attempts to win the ball back for Cardiff, mistimes his tackle on Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards. Minutes earlier, Dikgacoi was booked for pulling back Conor Coady.
REFEREE DECISION: Dikgacoi avoids punishment, with referee Andy Davies awarding a foul to Wolves, but deciding against giving the midfielder his second yellow card and subsequent red card.
DERMOT SAY: It's a reckless challenge and it's a foul. It's a yellow card and he should have been sent off. Why the referee thinks differently, I don't know. In isolation, it's a yellow card. It was reckless and you would expect another yellow card and then a red card.
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