Manchester City should have been awarded a penalty for a challenge on Erling Haaland in Saturday’s 3-1 victory in the Premier League this weekend.
That is according to Dermot Gallagher, who was speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch following the most recent round of fixtures.
Despite winning the game, City could have had a further goal following a challenge from Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on Haaland inside the box.
The Norwegian striker fell over the goalkeeper’s leg, but referee Craig Pawson and VAR official Lee Mason decided against awarding the champions a penalty.
But ex-referee Gallagher believes that a penalty should have been awarded, irrespective of whether it would have been a soft decision or not.
He said: “I think penalty. For me, the reason they didn’t give it is they feel there’s minimal contact and the ball’s running away from him.
“For me, that goalkeeper is no longer a goalkeeper. Once he decides to go with his feet, as far as I’m concerned, he’s a full-back – and if a full-back makes that tackle on a forward, he would be penalised.”
TIF Thoughts on Dermot Gallagher’s comments…
We completely agree with Gallagher and believe that if Sanchez’s boot had made contact with Haaland, the striker should have been awarded a penalty, regardless of whether it was soft or if the ball was going out of play.
We are surprised that VAR chose against awarding a penalty despite multiple angles showing that the Brighton goalkeeper clearly clips this season’s current top scorer.
Even if Haaland was looking to make contact with the ball running out of play, it is still a misjudgement from the goalkeeper and we feel he would have had no complaints if the call went the other way.