Former top referee rules on controversial Fulham v Newcastle incident

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on this incident in the Fulham v Newcastle match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at a key incident only six minutes into the match that potentially decided the result.

The Incident:

“A sliding challenge from Nathaniel Chalobah catches Sean Longstaff on the side of the shin.

“Darren England initially shows him a yellow card, before VAR Mike Dean sends him over to the review monitor – and he changes the booking to a red card.”

Dermot Gallagher verdict:

“Correct decision (after VAR review).”

Dermot Gallagher explanation:

“It’s a good intervention from Mike Dean to send Darren England over to the screen.

“He’s gone with studs, again above the ankle, and he probably didn’t mean to do it but when he sees it again, it’s a red card.”

I can’t believe those, including Fulham boss Marco Silva, who are in any way suggesting that the correct verdict wasn’t arrived at, eventually.

This was one of the exact reasons why VAR was brought in, the referee alerted to a challenge that was far worse than he might have realised in the split second he sees it in real time.

Stats from BBC Sport:

Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 – Saturday 1 October 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle:

Wilson 11, Almiron 33, 57, Longstaff 43

Fulham:

Chalobah red card 8, De Cordova-Reid 88

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Fulham 31% (24%) Newcastle 69% (76%)

Total shots were Fulham 4 (0) Newcastle 19 (13)

Shots on target were Fulham 1 (0) Newcastle 10 (7)

Corners were Fulham 1 (0) Newcastle 8 (4)

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 22,913 (2,300 Newcastle)

Newcastle United:

Pope, Trippier (Lewis 83), Schar (Lascelles 83), Botman, Burn (Targett 83), Longstaff, Bruno (Anderson 59), Willock, Murphy, Almiron, Wilson (Fraser 66)

Unused Subs:

Karius, Dummett, Joelinton, Wood

(Eddie Howe reflects on Fulham result and performance – Read HERE)

(Looking on at classic Archibald Leitch – Sitting on our hands in with the Fulham fans – Read HERE)

(Watch all four NUFC goals here – Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 match highlights -Watch HERE)

(Marco Silva embarrassingly blames match officials for hammering by Newcastle United – Read HERE)

(Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 – Match ratings and comments on all the NUFC players – Read HERE)

(3 Positives and 3 Negatives from Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 – Read HERE)

(Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 – The instant NUFC fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Fulham 1 Newcastle 4 – Capital fun for Eddie Howe and his players as they run riot – Read HERE)