Skip to content

Ref watch: Dermot Gallagher analyses Premier League red cards

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher (right) discusses the weekend's red cards with Rob Wotton
Image: Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher (right) discusses the weekend's red cards with Rob Wotton

There were six red cards in the Premier League at the weekend - and all bar one of them were debatable decisions.

Stoke City finished with nine men as they lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion, as Tony Pulis enjoyed a victorious return to the Britannia Stadium.

West Ham had a player dismissed for the sixth time this season as they recorded their first top-flight win at Liverpool in 52 years.

And Norwich and Newcastle both ended with one player less on the park as they lost to Southampton and Arsenal respectively.

Former referee Dermot Gallagher joined Rob Wotton on Monday's Sky Sports Now to look back over the five controversial calls and discuss whether they were correct or not.

PLAYER SENT OFF: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle) v Arsenal.

REFEREE: Andre Marriner

Also See:

Aleksandar Mitrovic (2nd R) of Newcastle United is shown a red card by referee Andre Marriner (1st R)
Image: Aleksandar Mitrovic (2nd R) of Newcastle United is shown a red card by referee Andre Marriner (1st R)

THE SCENARIO: Mitrovic goes up for a header at a throw-in with Arsenal's Nacho Monreal on the near touchline, then challenges for the loose ball with Francis Coquelin. He hops on his left foot first before stretching out his right leg and landing his right foot studs-first on the top of Coquelin's ankle. After yellow cards against Southampton and Swansea, Mitrovic is shown a straight red by Marriner.

MANAGER'S VIEW: Steve McClaren defended Mitrovic after full-time and said: "(Moussa) Sissoko had a similar one just before and that was given a yellow. I've seen it over and over - it's come over his head, he's looking at the ball, there is no intent, there is no maliciousness. It's just coming down and he's just stamped on his foot. It definitely was not dangerous. It was clumsy, but I have seen plenty of clumsy challenges. Football is a contact sport, it's a physical sport and we cannot take that away."

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: I thought the referee was excellent in this game. He's looking straight at it and has taken the time to think about it rather than rush in, which is what we like. It's serious foul play. He's over the ball, it's high, his studs are showing and he's come down on his ankle. I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever the referee has called it absolutely right. We've got to congratulate the referee for identifying what the offence was. He's acted accordingly and correctly. Mitrovic's reputation counts for nothing because referees do things instinctively.

PLAYER SENT OFF: Mark Noble (West Ham United) v Liverpool

REFEREE: Kevin Friend

West Ham's Mark Noble questions why he has been sent off against Liverpool
Image: West Ham's Mark Noble questions why he has been sent off against Liverpool

THE SCENARIO: Christian Benteke gives away possession in West Ham's penalty area and Noble takes control, turning into the oncoming James Milner and touching the ball away from him towards Danny Ings. The two players go for a 50-50 ball and Noble slides to get there first, touching the ball and keeping his studs facing the ground. Ings still falls and stays down holding his left ankle, with Noble being sent off.

MANAGER'S VIEW: Slaven Bilic admitted he planned to appeal the dismissal - West Ham's third in the Premier League this season after Adrian and Carl Jenkinson - in his post-match press conference. He said: "I watched it after and for me, the very simple answer is not a red card, nowhere near a red card. I am very hopeful and I think we should win it (the appeal). For the Adrian one, I said 'unlucky' but this one, with the greatest respect to the officials, it is not a red card."

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Wrong decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: The thing here is that unfortunately Kevin hasn't taken his time. For me, it's not a red card and he's got it 100 per cent wrong. He (Noble) has got a little clip off Milner and has lunged in but the referee's behind him and thinks he's fouled. In Mitrovic's case, his studs were up but here, Noble's are down and the referee has completely misread it. While Marriner deserves praise for taking his time and thinking it through, Kevin will look back and say he acted too quickly. If he'd just given himself that second Andre gave himself, I think he may well have come to a different decision.

PLAYER SENT OFF: Steven Whittaker (Norwich City) v Southampton

REFEREE: Jonathan Moss

Steven Whittaker leaves the field past Alex Neil
Image: Steven Whittaker leaves the field past Alex Neil

THE SCENARIO: With the game goalless, the out-of-position Whittaker is initially cautioned for obstructing Matt Targett as he tries to take a quick throw-in on Southampton's left. Four minutes later, he then grapples with Dusan Tadic 45 yards out as the Serbian tries to get past him and latch on to a through ball. Tadic goes down, then gets up quickly, protesting to Moss and waving an imaginary card at him. Whittaker is shown a second yellow card and Norwich go on to lose 3-0.

MANAGER'S VIEW: Alex Neil was frustrated the two cautions contributed to Norwich's 3-0 defeat and said: "I thought the first one was a bit soft because Steven is trying to recover his position so the guy can't take a throw in and put it into the area that he's just left. For the second one, he's tugged the lad back and I don't think there was any need to because the ball was running through to John Ruddy. The first one was a bit harsh but the second one was a silly decision and it's ultimately cost us."

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: The referee has considered the first one is the player delaying the restart, and I think the fact he's been so blatant about it makes it a cheap yellow card but he later pays a heavy price. Without doubt, the second one is a yellow card. Gary Neville made a great point at half-time when he said when a player is moving, it's very difficult to block him off and not be found guilty. When he's stationary, it doesn't look as bad as when someone is moving forward. They're both grappling but Whittaker has stopped him from going through and there was no need to as (Sebastien) Bassong would have come across and cut him (Tadic) off. I wonder why the referee hasn't seen Tadic, because simulation of yellow cards is a thing we've been asked to clamp down on.

PLAYER SENT OFF: Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) v West Bromwich Albion

REFEREE: Michael Oliver

Ibrahim Afellay of Stoke City is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver
Image: Ibrahim Afellay of Stoke City is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver

THE SCENARIO: Afellay bursts away from West Brom's Craig Gardner towards the near touchline but is fouled and falls over, winning a free kick. Gardner flicks his fingers against the Dutchman's chin, something he is later booked for. Afellay reacts to Gardner touching him at the time by shoving him in the face and is shown a straight red card for violent conduct.

MANAGER'S VIEW: Mark Hughes felt Oliver's decisions on the incident were inconsistent, and said: "The referee has played a part and has only seen one side of the coin in terms of Afellay. He's raised his hand, but he hasn't done that for no reason. He's been flicked in the face. I suppose by the letter of the law and if the referee had been attentive and doing his job, he should have sent both of them off. Common sense, you would have got both together told them to calm down and get on with the game."

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: The referee has seen Afellay petulantly slap out. Gardner put his hand up as well but he hasn't put it out like Afellay has. Most people would say you want to see both players treated the same but the referee has given the foul and what he's seen is Gardner motion towards him then Afellay, for whatever reason, has slapped out. Most people will say, when they're looking at it, that he's run the risk and paid the price for it. You can't criticise the referee because by the letter of the law, it's a sending-off offence. We talk about being above the shoulder and above the collar, which he's done. He has hit him in the face and it is a red card. 

PLAYER SENT OFF: Charlie Adam (Stoke City) v West Bromwich Albion

REFEREE: Michael Oliver

Charlie Adam shows his disbelief at the decision which resulted in him being sent off against West Brom
Image: Charlie Adam shows his disbelief at the decision which resulted in him being sent off against West Brom

THE SCENARIO: Craig Dawson pushes down the right wing for West Brom and Adam tackles him, putting the ball out for a throw. The players' legs get tangled, with Dawson falling to the ground as a result of the challenge while Adam stays on his feet. In the act of freeing himself from Dawson, Adam stands on the inside of Dawson's leg and is sent off by Oliver on the advice of one of his assistants.

MANAGER'S VIEW: Adam's dismissal infuriated Hughes even more and he added: "The letter of the law will say it's a stamp - it's not a stamp, it's a step and he's ended up on his leg. Charlie has gone to block a ball into the box, the lad has followed through on him. Charlie ends up stepping on his leg. All of a sudden, I see the assistant referee sprinting over to say to the referee to send Charlie off. I thought it was very harsh and a complete lack of understanding about the game as a whole."

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: The assistant has decided there's intent there. He's had the best view of it and he has felt Charlie Adam has come down on him and reported that to Michael, who has sent him off. I think there was intent actually and Charlie Adam's reaction at the end, when he looks to say 'what have I done?' then troops off suggests it was a red card. Both of the red cards in that game were correct. When you're sending a second player off from the same team in the same match, you've got to be right. You don't send players off by guesswork and when you're sending a second player off, you need to know it's right.

Around Sky