Sky Sports’ Ref Watch this week began with analysis from Dermot Gallagher on two incidents from Chelsea’s game against Manchester United.
Contact on the ball enough claims former ref
Chelsea were already in big trouble when Joao Pedro was brought down by Noussair Mazroui at Old Trafford on Saturday night, but there were plenty of valid claims for a penalty. Gallagher had the following to say:
“Referees do things by instinct – the ball changes direction because he [Mazraoui] gets the ball, the referee actually sees the ball change direction and he waves it away as it is not a penalty.”
Many would argue the fact that the defender got a bit of the ball had little to do with it.
Chelsea man escapes longer ban
The other big decision was after just minutes, when Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off.
“There is no doubt it is a red card – when you see a goalkeeper come rushing out, for whatever reason, he just takes out Mbeumo and Peter Bankes gave a red card and no one can argue it was a red card. A big, big decision four minutes in and he rose to it.”
The only question on that decision, which Gallagher doesn’t mention, is over the red card. It was going to be a red card either way, but it could have been for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (which it ultimately was), or for violent conduct as Sanchez’s foot was very high and contacted the striker’s knee.
Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your view), the former was given meaning a one match rather than a three match ban for Sanchez. He serves that tomorrow night then when we face Lincoln, then can be back on Saturday to face Brighton.