Ex-refs: City’s Khusanov should have seen red, not Arsenal’s Gabriel

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Former referee Keith Hackett believes Khusanov was fortunate not to concede a free-kick for the challenge on Havertz, and that it would have been a clear red card if the foul had been given.

“If Anthony Taylor awarded a free-kick, then there is no doubt in my mind that the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity has clearly taken place, and that would have resulted in a red card for the Manchester City player,” Hackett said.

“On reviewing the video, I think the Manchester City player is rather fortunate not to have been dismissed.”

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

As for Gabriel’s clash of heads with Haaland, former ref Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that he believes the ref reached a fair outcome by booking both players.

“It’s not the cleverest thing to do,” Gallagher admitted. “He runs a massive risk. But if you look, he actually goes down the front of him, he doesn’t go through him, he doesn’t headbutt him.

“I think it was a very fair outcome, to be honest. I think both of them are aggressive, I think both of them the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake.”

Ultimately, it seems the former officials believe Arsenal got a rougher ride from the referee and VAR than their opponents in Sunday’s defeat.