Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has reviewed several controversial incidents from the weekend's matches, including those involving Aston Villa and other teams. Gallagher provided insights on key decisions made during the games, as featured in the latest episode of Ref Watch.
Aston Villa's Jaden Philogene was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Gallagher commented on the second yellow card decision, saying, "Enough? Not for me. It's a foul only. I thought he was very unlucky." This highlights the ongoing debate regarding disciplinary actions and their fairness in matches.
In other notable incidents, John Stones' injury-time winner for Manchester City at Wolves was initially disallowed for offside due to Bernardo Silva's interference. However, a VAR review overturned the decision, allowing the goal to stand. Gallagher stated, "I definitely think so [it's a goal]. Silva is in an offside position, but he can't be offside from a corner."
Arsenal's William Saliba also faced controversy when he received a red card against Bournemouth after a VAR review upgraded his yellow card. Gallagher explained that the situation was different from previous refereeing decisions, stating, "It's a different situation. The ball is going down the middle."
Ref Watch also highlighted a disallowed penalty for Chelsea against Liverpool when VAR intervened to overturn the decision. Gallagher asserted that the decision to reverse the penalty was correct, as the Chelsea goalkeeper made contact with the ball first.
Additionally, Gallagher discussed the frustration of Fulham's penalty awarded for handball against Matty Cash. He affirmed that it was a penalty as Cash’s arm was outstretched, which goes against the rules of natural body position during play.
These insights were reported by Sky Sports, showcasing the importance of VAR in maintaining fairness within the Premier League. As the 2024/2025 season progresses, Aston Villa and other clubs remain scrutinised under the evolving interpretations of refereeing decisions.