Arsenal's Gabriel should have been sent off vs. Manchester City, Premier League panel finds

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsSteve McClaren InterviewThe Mind of John W. HenryTitle Race TrackerArsenal’s Gabriel should have been sent off vs. Manchester City, Premier League panel findsHaaland and Gabriel were given yellow cards for the second-half incident Michael Regan/Getty Images Share articleGabriel should have been sent off for violent conduct during Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City in April, the Premier League’s key match incidents panel has found. In the 82nd minute, with the league leaders chasing the game, the defender was pushed by Erling Haaland and the pair had a head-to-head altercation. As they parted, Gabriel appeared to push the striker with his head. Referee Anthony Taylor gave each player a yellow card following the incident, and video assistant referee (VAR) John Brooks did not intervene. The Premier League’s KMI panel is an independent body introduced in the 2022-23 season that reviews critical match incidents in the referee’s jurisdiction. The panel ruled by a majority of 3:2 that Gabriel’s actions warranted a red card for violent conduct, due to his extra head movement, according to sources with knowledge of the outcome. One panellist also would have supported a VAR intervention for a clear and obvious error, but the majority of the panel did not agree and deemed Brooks’ decision not to send Taylor to the monitor correct, sources added. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws of the game defines violent conduct as when a player “uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball”, and this is considered a sending-off offence. The fixture was a crucial match in the title race, allowing Manchester City to close the gap to the league leaders to just three points with a game in hand. Arsenal had been nine points ahead before a loss to Bournemouth preceding their visit to the Etihad Stadium. City opened the scoring through Rayan Cherki before Kai Havertz equalised. Haaland then scored the decider in the 65th minute, before his clash with Gabriel. Arsenal have four league matches left to hold onto their three-point lead at the top of the table, and are also competing in the Champions League’s semi-finals. City, however, have five games to play, plus their FA Cup final against Chelsea which is one of three matches in seven days for Pep Guardiola’s side. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms