Premier League Upholds Decision on Haaland’s Gabriel Punishment After Reviewing VAR Footage
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland escaped punishment for throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes during the 2-2 draw between the two teams last weekend. After reviewing VAR footage, the Premier League has decided that Haaland’s actions did not warrant any retrospective action.
The incident occurred seconds after John Stones had scored a late equalizer to rescue a point for Manchester City. Haaland was seen picking the ball out of the net and throwing it at the back of Gabriel’s head before catching it again. The Norwegian then collided with Thomas Partey, leading to a mass confrontation between both sets of players.
While neither incident was punished by the referee during the game, the Premier League decided to investigate the Gabriel incident further. According to The Telegraph, Haaland was initially found guilty of violent conduct by Michael Oliver, the on-field referee. However, Oliver did not deem it worthy of a sending-off and instead gave Gabriel a verbal warning.
No Suspension for Haaland
As the incident was not spotted by the referee during the game, Haaland faced the possibility of a retrospective ban. However, the Premier League’s decision not to punish the Manchester City striker has drawn criticism from some quarters.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, for instance, believes that Haaland was "very lucky" that the incident wasn’t picked up by the referee or VAR. In an interview with The Sun, Halsey claimed that the Norwegian’s actions could be construed as violent conduct and that he could have received a ban had it been spotted during the game.
What Next?
The Premier League’s decision not to punish Haaland has sparked a lively debate about the merits of reviewing VAR footage in cases where incidents are not spotted by the on-field referee. While some have questioned the need for additional punishments in cases where no clear malice is involved, others believe that the league’s decision sends a confusing message about what is acceptable on the pitch.
Regardless, the incident has sparked renewed debate about the role of VAR in football and its ability to capture every infraction on the pitch. As the league continues to refine its officiating standards, fans and pundits alike will be eager to see how the situation unfolds.
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