Skip to content

Ref Watch: No winners in James Maddison situation, says Dermot Gallagher

Plus, should VAR be used in all FA Cup ties?

Youri Tielemans celebrates with James Maddison after giving Leicester the lead
Image: Maddison (right) was yellow carded after scoring and then taking off his shirt to reveal a message

There was plenty for Dermot Gallagher to get stuck into from the weekend's Premier League and FA Cup games, with goal celebrations, controversy involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and red cards and penalties all on the agenda.

Read on to see what the former top-flight referee had to say on just a few of the big decisions from the last few days' action...

Burnley 1-2 Leicester

Maddison curled home the opener with a fine free-kick
Image: Maddison reveals the message after scoring at Turf Moor

INCIDENT: James Maddison is booked after scoring and then taking off his shirt to reveal a message for Sophie Taylor, the five-year-old girl he supported throughout her battle with cancer.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: There are no winners in this situation.

DERMOT SAYS: It is for all kinds of reasons that that rule was brought in. What I would say is that there are no winners in this situation because Michael Oliver is duty bound to yellow card him. What I did think was really nice was you could see Michael, who has to apply the law, he might not like it, but he did take time to explain that to Maddison. And total respect to Maddison, who has come out publicly to say he is only doing his job.

INCIDENT: Harry Maguire is shown a straight red after a last-man foul on Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights from Leicester's 2-1 win against Burnley in the Premier League

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision, sending-off.

Also See:

DERMOT SAYS: The only decision to make here is, is it a foul? That is the only call you have to make and I think it is a foul. And on that basis, he [Michael Oliver] has got to send him off. It is unfortunate, but that is the law. He has a clear run on goal and he clips his heels and there is no doubt it is a foul.

Swansea 2-3 Man City

Swansea City's Cameron Carter-Vickers appeals to match referee Andre Marriner during the FA Cup quarter final match at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday March 16, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Swansea. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services.
Image: Swansea's players protest City's late winner

INCIDENT: Sergio Aguero's scores a late winner against Swansea in the FA Cup despite being offside, but there was no VAR in use because FA rules this season state it is only used at games being held at Premier League stadiums.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: It was still a level playing field at the Liberty Stadium.

DERMOT SAYS: There are two issues. One, if you have that facility to use in Premier League grounds, they did and why would you not use something you have got. And secondly, the two grounds that did not use it, it is still a level playing field for the teams. It is not as if it is a league competition. It is a cup competition, so for the two sides on that day, it was still a level playing field and it was for Swansea and Man City. It was unfortunate how the decisions panned out, but nobody was to know that when they kicked off.

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights from Everton's 2-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League

INCIDENT: Marcos Alonso trips Richarlison in the area.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision, penalty.

DERMOT SAYS: He stands on his foot, takes him down and Anthony Taylor has a brilliant position. When you see it at normal speed, it is easier to tell it is a penalty.

Fulham 1-2 Liverpool

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The Super Sunday panel discuss whether Liverpool should have been awarded a late penalty at Fulham for Sergio Rico's tug on Sadio Mane

INCIDENT: Sergio Rico drops the ball and then pulls down Sadio Mane.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision, penalty.

DERMOT SAYS: He has panicked and just pulled him down. The referee [Craig Pawson] has no choice but to give a penalty. If he had thought it through, Mane would not have got to the ball though. Once you wrap your arms around a player, you are duty bound to give a foul.

Leeds 0-1 Sheffield United

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Casilla is dismissed against Sheff Utd

INCIDENT: Kiko Casilla is shown a red card in stoppage time for a professional foul on Billy Sharp.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision, sending-off.

DERMOT SAYS: If you watch where the foul occurs, the full back would not have got across to prevent a goal, it is an obvious goalscoring opportunity that is being denied. So it would always be a red card as once Sharp is by the 'keeper, he can just roll the ball into an empty net.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Around Sky