Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has defended the decision from officials not to send off Jordan Ayew in Crystal Palace’s loss to Manchester United, suggesting that “there is only so much they can pick up at the time.”
Casemiro was given his marching orders on 70 minutes for raising his hands to Will Hughes’ neck amid the second-half brawl following a VAR check. However, Ayew appeared to force his hand towards the throat of Fred but went unpunished.
United held out for a 2-1 win but Casemiro will now be suspended for the next three Premier League clashes against Leeds, twice, and Leicester. His ban will not affect his participation in United’s Europa League first leg tie with Barcelona, which takes place three days before the visit of the Foxes.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, Gallagher said he believes referee Andre Marriner was correct in showing Casemiro the red card and offered a reason why Ayew’s altercation was missed, but added that there is the possibility of the FA taking retrospective action.
"It's the worst nightmare for a referee, there is so much going on isn't there?” he assessed. “It's impossible to police [it] yourself.
“If you watch Scott Ledger [the assistant referee], he's trying to control players, he then goes round the back to get a better view of something else. Casemiro is actually behind his back that's the problem, there is just so much going on.
“I think the VAR picked up Casemiro and people are asking why Ayew wasn't picked up. I think there is only so much they can pick up at the time.
"I think Casemiro is a red card. The reason I say that is because you can't condone a player putting both hands around somebody's throat. I think the VAR has looked at it and recommended that it is a red card.
“There are other things going on - is somebody a peacemaker or an aggressor? I think the FA will look at that today and it’s up to them to see if they have to process anything else.”
Gallagher said he felt the officials had no choice but to send off Casemiro as to not set a precedent going forward. He added: "When I see a player with two hands around a player's throat, I can't condone that and say that is not a red card offence.
“Because if I do then what I am doing is giving a player a licence week after week after week to think that this is acceptable. I don't think this is acceptable.
"I think the angle that Andre [Marriner] was shown is conclusive. I think that is a red card. I think that this one will roll on this morning - it was impossible for the two of them there to police that."
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