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da 888casino： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has waded in with his thoughts on the Jack Grealish incident from Saturday afternoon.
What’s he said?
Aston Villa were defeated 1-0 at Selhurst Park as Jordan Ayew’s second-half goal secured all three points for Crystal Palace.
The game was thrown into controversy deep into stoppage time when substitute Henri Lansbury’s finish was disallowed as referee Kevin Friend had blown the whistle for what he believed was a dive during the build-up by Jack Grealish.
Gallagher believes Friend’s decision to punish Grealish for simulation was wrong, but he did also claim that VAR could have done nothing in allowing Lansbury’s goal to stand.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he said:
“Whether you like it or not, VAR could not do anything about it at all. It all defaulted back to Kevin Friend.
“They can check whether it’s a penalty, but they cannot check simulation. The referee made his choice there, it’s not the choice I would’ve made.
“The referee’s mindset is that he’s gone over too easily, that he’s trying to win a penalty. I thought it wasn’t a dive. I thought Cahill has made contact.”
VAR is not the issue, for once
So there it is. VAR couldn’t have helped Villa gain a point on Saturday.
The fault lies with the referee, which is a much deeper issue at hand.
As Friend had blown the whistle before Lansbury had even touched the ball, the goal was rightfully disallowed – but the decision to book Grealish for a dive was wrong and rather poor.
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And if that moment when their captain went down hadn’t have happened then there was no guarantee the ball would have even ended up in Lansbury’s path.
The 2019/20 Premier League season is only four games old so there’s still plenty to play for – it is unlikely that an away defeat at Palace is going to define their season or affect where they finish come May.
It’s time to move on.
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