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A Premier League panel ruled that Arsenal's Gabriel should have been red-carded for a headbutt on Erling Haaland. The incident occurred during a match where Arsenal lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
Arsenal defender Gabriel appeared to headbutt Manchester City forward Erling Haaland during the two sides' meeting in April -Credit:Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images
(Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arsenal defender Gabriel should have received a red card for his headbutt on Manchester City's Erling Haaland, a Premier League panel has ruled. The Brazilian center-back avoided dismissal after appearing to thrust his head toward the striker during last month's encounter at the Etihad Stadium, which saw the Gunners lose 2-1.
Neither referee Anthony Taylor nor VAR considered the incident worthy of a red card, with both Gabriel and Haaland receiving yellow cards. VAR official John Brooks determined that the headbutt was "not excessively aggressive or violent" and therefore chose not to intervene.
However, a Premier League panel has since weighed in and acknowledged that Gabriel should indeed have been shown a red card. The Premier League's key match incidents panel voted 3:2 in favor of a red card, contending that "the extra head movement forward from Gabriel" ought to be classified as violent conduct.
The Premier League panel decided that Gabriel should have received a red card for his headbutt on Erling Haaland.
Gabriel was not dismissed because neither the referee nor VAR deemed the headbutt excessively aggressive or violent.
Arsenal lost the match 2-1 to Manchester City.
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Referee Anthony Taylor should have sent Gabriel off for the incident, a Premier League panel has now ruled -Credit:Michael Regan/Getty Images
The remaining two panelists, however, argued "there is little force or initial backwards movement from Gabriel." And while it was conceded that a red card should have been issued, the panel ultimately voted 4:1 against a VAR intervention, as per The Mirror.
Had Gabriel been dismissed, he would have automatically received a three-game ban for violent conduct, ruling him out of the victory against Newcastle United, along with upcoming matches against Fulham and West Ham.
Haaland shared his thoughts on the incident immediately after the final whistle, suggesting that a more theatrical reaction could have seen Gabriel shown a red card. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I think it's always like this. A lot of fighting and these kind of things.
"That's others to decide if I won that battle. Of course, I scored the goal. I won that battle in the decisive moment, the cross was perfect. It was a great goal. In the end, we win."
He added: "If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face."
Meanwhile, former Manchester United star Gary Neville was left stunned that Gabriel was allowed to remain on the field. Speaking on commentary, he said: "Now why did you do that, Gabriel?
"You can put your heads against each other, I got done in a game a long time ago, the moment you throw it forward you get a red. I can't believe that's not a red to be honest."