Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.
The former top referee has now given his call on this incident in the Newcastle v Chelsea match.
Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during a key moment in this match at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United and Chelsea in a game not without incident…
This Premier League match ending Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2.
Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about this Newcastle v Chelsea controversial incident:
INCIDENT:
‘Newcastle thought they should have had a penalty for a foul by Trevoh Chalobah on Anthony Gordon.
Eddie Howe said “anywhere else on the pitch and that’s a foul” and he called it a “stonewall” penalty for his side. Is he right?’
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“I think it’s a penalty.
“He’s aggressive and nowhere near the ball.
“He looks at the man rather than the ball. There is no look to the ball.
“I think it is a penalty.”
Former player Jay Bothroyd on Sky Sports News:
“They said Calobah was shielding the ball out.
“Shielding the ball out is not like that.
“Shielding the ball out is not letting the attacker come around you. What Calobah did is more of a body check.
“It should be a penalty. Anywhere else on the pitch it is a free kick.
“The terminology being used by the VAR isn’t being backed up by the footage.”
Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd absolutely calling correctly this unbelievable situation, where both on the pitch referee Andy Madley AND the VAR Peter Bankes, didn’t see this as a penalty.
The only criticism I would have…
Is that the Ref Watch programme didn’t lead with the Anthony Gordon incident, looking at other matches and incidents in those first.
Then the fact that the Newcastle v Chelsea match should have been a Ref Watch (nearly wrote Crimewatch there!) special all of its own.
Newcastle should also have had two other penalties, for the Fofana handball and the James challenge on Barnes in the penalty area when he played the man and never touched the ball.
Then two clear red cards, James pulling Barnes back outside the box when the Chelsea player was last man, then the shocking Garnacho studs down Ramsey’s shin with no attempt to play the ball. Ironically, Sky Sports analysing the Simons red card against Liverpool, Dermot Gallagher saying a definite red for that and the Spurs player’s challenge was very similar BUT not even as bad as Garnacho’s.