Former top referee rules on controversial Manchester City v Newcastle incident | OneFootball

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on this incident in the Manchester City v Newcastle match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at a key incident, the circumstances when Newcastle United went 2-0 down on 38 minutes.

The incident:

Trailing 1-0, a long range Gundogan shot is fumbled by Martin Dubravka.

He dives forward to try and retrieve the situation and appears to get his hand to the ball, only for the ball to be kicked out of his grasp by Dias.

Laporte then knocking it into the empty net.

The referee giving the goal and no intervention from VAR.

Dermot Gallagher:

“I think what happens is, he (Dubravka) spills the ball.”

Sky Sports presenter:

“But does he (Dubravka) have his hand on the ball, on the ground?”

Dermot Gallagher:

“He has to have his hand on the ball, on top of the ball, between the ground.

“Now, I’m not convinced that he has.

“I think he is reaching for the ball and as he reaches for the ball, he doesn’t get it.

“It is kicked away from him (by Dias).

“I don’t think he (Dubravka) has this placement on top of the ball. So I feel in that case he doesn’t actually get it.”

Sky Sports presenter:

“It is a split second between whether the ball was kicked before his hand was on it, that’s what we are dealing in here?

Dermot Gallagher:

“Yes.”

At the time, like everybody else you are hoping for the referee to give a foul, then failing that, for VAR to intervene.

However, once you saw the TV replays, I think it was clear that there was no reason for the goal not to be given.

It was a bit different but similar in the Leicester match last month, when Bruno G equalised and Kasper Schmeichel wanted a free-kick, only for replays to show that the Foxes keeper never had the ball under his full control and wasn’t fouled.

Stats from BBC Sport:

Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 8 May 4.30pm

Goals:

Man City:

Sterling 19, 90+3, Laporte 38, Rodri 61, Foden 90

Newcastle:

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Man City 71% (68%) Newcastle 29% (32%)

Total shots were Man City 21 (10) Newcastle 7 (2)

Shots on target were Man City 9 (5) Newcastle 3 (1)

Corners were Man City 8 (4) Newcastle 2 (1)

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Attendance:  53,336 (Newcastle 3,000)

Newcastle United:

Dubravka, Krafth (Trippier 68), Lascelles, Burn, Targett, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin, Almiron (Murphy 80), Wood (Wilson 68)

Unused Subs:

Darlow, Dummett, Schar, Ritchie, Manquillo, Gayle

(Pep Guardiola gets it half right… Read HERE)

(Newcastle v Manchester City player ratings results from NUFC fans – Brutal but fair? Read HERE)

(Three Newcastle United players set to miss the rest of the season – Official NUFC injury update – Read HERE)

(3 Positives and 3 Negatives taken from Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 – Read HERE)

(Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings and comments on all the NUFC players – Read HERE)