Tuesday 3 January 2017 15:33, UK
Referee Mike Dean's decision to send off Sofiane Feghouli during West Ham's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United was incorrect.
That's according to former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher, who told Premier League Daily that Feghouli's tackle on Phil Jones was worthy of a yellow card rather than a red.
We asked Gallagher to analyse several of the controversial incidents on Monday, including Fernandinho's latest dismissal for Manchester City.
INCIDENT: Sofiane Feghouli sent off for a first-half challenge on Phil Jones
SCENARIO: Feghouli takes a heavy touch and collides with Man Utd defender Jones. Referee Mike Dean issues a red card to the West Ham attacker
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision
DERMOT SAYS: I think it is a yellow card. What happens is Feghouli overruns the ball and lunges in. He doesn't go out of control as such, he goes in for the ball and collides with Jones as Jones comes in from the other side. It was not as if Jones was there to take the impact, Jones came into his line and I think all those factors lead to a yellow card. The unfortunate thing is Mike has seen the end of it and the reaction and I think a lot of that has played on his mind. In fairness to him, he took his time. You can't say it's a knee-jerk reaction but when he's computed it all he's come to the decision it's a red card. I think he will look at that today and think he got it wrong.
What I will say is I think Mike has been very unfairly criticised as a person because in the nine and a half years I have been off the Premier League, I think Mike Dean has made fewer errors than any other referee. The reason why we are talking about this error so much is because Mike Dean doesn't make many.
INCIDENT: Cheikhou Kouyate is penalised for a foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan
SCENARIO: The West Ham midfielder concedes a free-kick for a tackle on Mkhitaryan. Referee Mike Dean does not issue a card.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Could have been a yellow card
DERMOT SAYS: Mike has to get this absolutely right because what you don't want is to have a second red card that everybody is going to say was not a red card. There is no doubt whatsoever the Kouyate one was not a red card, that's absolutely certain. It could well have been a yellow but Mike didn't go overboard. He didn't react the way he did for the first one [Feghouli] and almost compound it by issuing another red.
INCIDENT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal
SCENARIO: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores Man Utd's second goal at the London Stadium but appears to be in an offside position when he gathers possession
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision
DERMOT SAYS: It is just a lack of concentration from the assistant. In that situation, the three Man Utd players are in an offside position - which is not an offence - but assistants at this level are taught to keep an eye on them in case the ball comes forward. In your mind you should have a picture of where they started and unfortunately the assistant has lost sight of their starting position. That's the only error he has made because without doubt, when the ball comes in, Ibrahimovic is offside. It's a decision at this level you should get right.
INCIDENT: Fernandinho's red card
SCENARIO: Fernandinho receives his third red card in his last six appearances for a tackle on Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: We have talked about this for a few weeks, when players fly in two-footed, we have talked about players endangering the safety of their opponents and we have talked about players out of control, and I think those are the factors. If you look at Fernandinho's tackle, all three boxes are ticked. He is out of control, he goes in two-footed and he can't stop himself at the pace he's going. He didn't take the ball and he definitely took the man. Lee Mason has got no alternative than to give a red card and full credit to him, he's taken the correct decision.
INCIDENT: Ben Mee's goal
SCENARIO: The Goal Decision System (GDS) signals a goal for Burnley after Ben Mee's effort crosses the line, but Manchester City appeal for a foul on goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. The goal is awarded.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: We can look at this in three phases. The first shot comes in and is blocked on the line. The second one goes in from Ben Mee and the GDS triggers to alert it's gone over the line. Lee Mason whistles and points to his watch. It's at that point then that Andre Gray makes the challenge on the goalkeeper. Well, the move is already over. It's unfortunate because the players didn't realise the GDS had gone off - only the referee had at that point - but the foul happened after the goal had been scored so the foul is negated. Play is terminated.
INCIDENT: Sunderland's free-kick leading to the award of their second penalty at the Stadium of Light
SCENARIO: Sunderland are awarded a controversial free-kick, which is subsequently handballed by Sadio Mane, resulting in a penalty and Jermain Defoe's second goal of the game
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Harsh on Liverpool but an understandable decision
DERMOT SAYS: It's a very, very harsh free-kick but I can see Anthony Taylor's point of view. Where he is stood, he thinks Lucas Leiva has actually fouled the player. When you look at it, he probably hasn't. It doesn't excuse the fact that it is a free-kick and Liverpool still have the chance to set up and Sadio Mane deliberately handles the ball. It wasn't the fact the referee gave a free-kick that may have been harsh, it was the consequence of the free-kick and the way they defended it. Also remember, Anthony Taylor clearly said to everyone, 'Don't raise your hands' as referees now do.
