The FA have missed an open goal by failing to punish Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli for shoving a referee - it should never have been allowed to happen
14:10, 06 Apr 2026Updated 14:14, 06 Apr 2026
Gabriel Martinelli
View 3 Images
Gabriel Martinelli shoved an official during the FA Cup(Image: BBC)
It’s the kind of open goal you could be mistaken for thinking even the Football Association couldn't miss. The chance of a slam dunk.
To make the kind of example of a footballer, future generations of the sport need to see happen. But alas, the FA appear hamstrung by their own rules. Which is a farce in itself.
So we have to stomach the fact that Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli can push a referee live on TV - and escape with nothing more punitive than a booking. And we wonder why amateur referees up and down the land are turning their backs on football.
Gabriel Martinelli
View 3 Images
Gabriel Martinelli was punished with a yellow card(Image: BBC)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
While those brave enough to take charge of matches every weekend continue to receive intolerable levels of abuse. Sometimes on a physical level.
Martinelli shoved referee Sam Barrott in an attempt to take a quick free kick, as Arsenal chased an equaliser in last weekend's shock FA Cup defeat to Southampton. And for some bizarre reason, Barrott decided to book the Brazilian.
But what is even more maddening is the fact that because Barrott dealt with the incident at the time - even though he didn't deal with it adequately - the FA now have no power to take retrospective action and ban Martinelli.
Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup
View 3 Images
Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup(Image: AP)
Footballers putting their hands on an official is unacceptable and wrong. It should never be allowed to happen.
And if a referee suffers such an action and fails to take the appropriate decision, which is show a red card to the offender, how can it be right that those who govern the game cannot clean up the mess afterwards?
How are future generations of footballers, let alone current ones, both professional and amateur, supposed to learn acceptable levels of respect towards officials, when someone like Martinelli shows Barrott none at all?
Article continues below
The rules on retrospective action need ripping up and starting again. Because the current ones stink.