A former England striker Alan Shearer has criticised the decision to book Diogo Dalot during Sunday’s Manchester derby, insisting the challenge should have earned a red card.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Monday, Shearer said: “I think VAR got that terribly wrong. For me, that was a clear red card.”
He added, “Forget about whether the contact was ‘glancing’ or not. I can understand why the referee hasn’t given it—it might have been difficult for him to see—but when the VAR has two professionals looking at that, it should have been a very easy decision to give a red card.”
The incident saw referee Anthony Taylor issue a yellow card, a decision supported by video assistant referee Craig Pawson, who described the contact as “glancing and not with excessive force.”
Shearer argued that while Taylor may have struggled to see the full extent of the challenge in real time, the VAR officials had sufficient footage to make a clear-cut decision for a sending-off.
The ruling has reignited debate among pundits and fans, highlighting ongoing discussions about VAR consistency and the differing standards for serious foul play between the Premier League and European competitions.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
Leave a comment