ByDale JohnsonFootball Issues Correspondent2 hours ago826 commentsThe running battle between Erling haaland and Gabriel was the theme of the title match between Manchester City vs Arsenal. The Norway forward had already been partially ripped during a physical tussle in City’s 2-1 victory on Sunday. Referee Anthony Taylor allowed both players to have some latitude in this kind of scrap, which is what fans enjoy in big games. However, things heated up in the 83rd minutes after Haaland fought Gabriel in an aerial duel. The VAR did not intervene. Image source, Getty Images. Why did the VAR not intervene? Image source, Getty ImagesWhat is a headbutt exactly? The laws of the game don’t specifically refer to it, so it’s wrapped up in violent conduct. Referee Taylor listened to this advice and booked both players because of their aggressive attitude. John Brooks, the VAR, must first consider that the incident was clearly seen by the assistant. Brooks could he really say Gabriel’s action was excessively violent or aggressive? This quiz will provide us with information about the events that led to the red card for Martinez. What information can we gather from this quiz? Why was Martinez sent off for a hair pull? Manchester United fans might disagree. Michael Carrick, the manager of the Red Devils, called it “one the worst” decisions that he had ever seen. If Gabriel had been sent off he would have missed three of Arsenal’s last five matches. He will instead be available for the fixtures with Newcastle, Fulham and West Ham. There can be no retroactive action as VAR effectively has rendered it obsolete in Premier League. The Football Association cannot bring charges if an incident was assessed by either the on-field team, or the VAR. How could Brooks – one of the most respected VARs who is regularly appointed to the biggest matches – make such different decisions. It is primarily because the hair pulling was not identified by the on field team. The VAR did not have a description to use, so it was easier for him to intervene. Arsenal fans must support the team in the title chase – Rooney9 Hours agoCould it encourage players to act? Gabriel has a lot of Haaland to thank for. Rooney said that Arsenal fans must help the team in title hunt. This is a common problem. If a player doesn’t react to a headbutt, trip, or push, it’s harder to prove that there was an offense. This only encourages players who want to get the right decision to play up in front of the cameras. For example, if Calvert-Lewin had not fallen down holding his hair, would Brooks even have picked up on the potential red card? We have a great example to compare. In November 2020, Taylor was the referee for Leeds against Arsenal. Nicolas Pepe, with the referee’s back turned, walked up and placed his face into the face Ezgjan Alioski, the North Macedonia International. Alioski was sent off after a VAR review. Mike Arteta, the Gunners’ manager at the time, said that Pepe’s actions were “unacceptable”. Pepe was sent to the stands after a VAR investigation, with Mike Arteta stating that his actions at the time were “unacceptable”. One problem with the Premier League is the high threshold of VAR intervention. This often leads to the most logical decisions not being reached. Haaland’s calmness is refreshing in a world where players are eager to fall to the ground. Haaland said, “If I fall down like any other player, it’s an automatic red card,” after the match. “It’s something I wouldn’t do. My father taught me that you should always stay on your feet. “Should I go down? Maybe. Then it would have been easier. “City boss Pep Guardiola will be hoping it does not come back to haunt his team if Gabriel proves to be a match-winner for Arsenal over the next three games.Related topicsPremier LeagueManchester CityArsenalFootballGet news, insight and fan views on your Premier League team12 MarchAll your football quizzes in one placeMore on this storyPremier League indexPremier League tablePremier League fixtures
