Ref Watch: David Brooks grabbed Marc Cucurella's shirt, not his hair, in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth, says Dermot Gallagher
16 January 2025, 09:38 | Updated: 16 January 2025, 19:35
Ex-top flight referee Dermot Gallagher assesses the controversial moments from the midweek action, including the first time in Premier League history that an official has rejected a red-card review at the pitch-side monitor.
INCIDENT: David Brooks clashes with Marc Cucurella off the ball and referee Robert Jones is sent to the pitchside monitor for a red-card review. However, he decides not to send Brooks off - a first in the Premier League.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: "The VAR recommends a review because he thinks there's a possible act of violent conduct.
"I wonder if the VAR thought Brooks pulled Cucurella's hair. It looks as though his hair is pulled back.
"Brooks actually grabs the front of Cucurella's shirt. The referee looked at it for a long time and discussed it.
"He came to the conclusion that Brooks pulled the top of his shirt which is why you get the clothesline effect. The referee deemed it reckless rather than violent because it was a grab of the shirt.
"His opinion was it stopped a promising attack. It wasn't violent conduct - he didn't grab his hair or throat."
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