![[FREE TO READ] Should Gabriel have seen red? Former Premier League referee Graham Scott doesn't think so..](https://www.eucup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/yapgpBG-GBQFxiCI_WUkbwZV7BCcNofiDxNOnIMfMx8-1024x538.jpeg "[FREE TO READ] Should Gabriel have seen red? Former Premier League referee Graham Scott doesn’t think so..")
“The Brazil international’s late flourish looked like a potential headbutt on Erling Haaland, but he was stepping away and there was no contact that would have looked like violent conduct to referee Anthony Taylor.
“VAR John Brooks would have been aware that his colleague had a good view of the incident and would have had scant evidence to justify recommending an upgrade to red.”
by TheAthletic
43 Comments
Their heads were together and Gabriel pushes haaland away with his head. It was foolish but both of them getting a yellow was the correct decision
100% a red
Wow former ref agrees with on field decisions and won’t say a word against his former colleague…….colour me fucking shocked
I’ve seen them given. Gabi should be grateful that Haaland didn’t make a meal of it.
Given I’ve seen peope sent off for less (based entirely on rhe reaction of the player being pushed into) I’d say yes. He’s a very lucky boy that there’s no consistency.
Stupid moment from him. Also stupid from the team as a collective for letting it come down to this match.
CBA.
If haaland headbutted him gabriel would’ve flopped to the ground
He didn’t get a red because Haaland ain’t no pussy like him and didn’t flop.
😂
“Hey, but what if he touched his hair?” “Violent conduct, 3 match ban”
Martinez was sent off for touching a blokes man bun.
It’s as blatant a red as you can get as per the rules.
I mean if we’re going on precedent, yes
I mean obviously yeah, you can’t be doing that in todays game
The motion with his head alone shows violent intent, he’s lucky to have not been sent off and owes Haaland some thanks for no-selling it and staying on his feet.
Definite red. Haaland saved him. Gabriel would have gone down himself if Haaland did that.
Someone got sent off for grazing their man bun last week lmao.
That was totally a red card, but it was so funny watching haaland owning gabriel on the pitch that it was worth not having the red card
Blatant red card. Gabriel is such an evil player.
Games gone soft if you think it’s a red. Haaland pushed him with his hands, he pushed back with his head. Nothing incident
The rule book literally says violent conduct, which includes head butts, is a red regardless of it making contact or physically hurting the player
He took a risk but they both been at it the whole game, I like the way the ref dealt with it.
Its a red, completely lost his head
First yellow for slapping Cherkis head
Second yellow if not red for the headbutt
But the inconsistency is what it is 🤷♂️
Biggest game of the season and the ref defused the situation in about a minute, great officiating.
Nobody wants players sent off for nothing incidents. The sport isn’t a pantomime.
If you want a red card for this, you’re here for the drama and not the football
Yall seen Mosquera yellow?
It’s ok to throw your head in the face of a player, but for Christ sake don’t touch his ponytail
Despite this robbery city still won. What an amazing manager Arteta is.
Haaland played as his promise. Stay humble. Felt the entire game was Haaland playing tough physical football and Gabriel playing wind up and fouling.
It was stupid, but it wasn’t a head butt. Their heads were touching and he pushed his forward.
Kudos to Holland for not flopping to the ground feigning injury.
He’s 100% wrong. That shouldve been a red all day long. Both of them going head to head is a yellow for each, but Gabriel practically *jumps* into Haaland
Yes
You know Arsenal are bottling it when you start hearing about officiating again.
Any similar situations out there that Graham Scott expressed an opinion on? Will I be surprised if he’s inconsistent?
Of course these asshats stick together, like stale shit!
Joke of a decision.
The red for aggressive conduct leads to multiple game ban for Gabriel and changes the scenario of the title race.
But ok, Haaland decided to be a man and plead for a foul, so it must be ok according to the rule book.
Edit: not plead*
There was a CLEAR hand ball on one of the Arse defenders and cheat Anthony Taylor didn’t batter an eye and VAR were absent. Like the fix was in……
Straight red in any other game. He didn’t just push his head into him, hit did it fast and with malice. VAR pussied out.
Of course. Police would intervene if that happened in Tesco. Maybe not in Aldi but defo a Tesco.
They gave a red to Martinez over a hair pull that many were unsure if it was or not. Gabriel clearly tried to headbutt Haaland. Is that not violent conduct enough?
Romero would have been deported
Grabriel keeps getting away with murder. In this game alone he grabbed Haaland’s hair, smacked Cherki’s head, headbutted Haaland.
Nope