VAR assessment: Was Gabriel of Arsenal deserving of a red card for headbutting?

The video assistant referee generates debate each week in the Premier League, but what is the decision-making process and are the outcomes accurate?

This season, we will examine significant incidents to clarify the procedures in relation to VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

Andy Davies (@andydaviesref), a former Select Group referee, has over 12 seasons of experience on the elite list, officiating in both the Premier League and Championship. With a wealth of experience at the highest level, he has worked within the VAR framework in the Premier League and provides a distinct perspective on the processes, reasoning, and protocols implemented on a Premier League matchday.

Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal

Referee: Anthony Taylor
VAR: John Brooks
Time: 83 minutes
Incident: Potential red card for violent conduct

What occurred: A confrontation between Gabriel and Erling Haaland culminated in the Arsenal defender appearing to headbutt City’s Haaland. Referee Anthony Taylor opted to issue a yellow card to Gabriel, and VAR chose not to intervene.

VAR decision: VAR determined that no clear error had been made by the referee and upheld the yellow card.

VAR review: VAR John Brooks would have relied on the on-field communications from Anthony Taylor while assessing this incident. Taylor’s perspective on the potential violent act by Gabriel and its resulting contact was credible, as he had all pertinent information and provided his reasoning accordingly.

According to the law, a red card for violent conduct is considered when a player employs or attempts to employ excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not contesting the ball. However, such an action may be classified as a yellow card for exhibiting an aggressive demeanor if the referee perceives the contact as minimal.

This was the rationale provided by Taylor, and VAR did not entirely disagree. In this instance and its particular circumstances, VAR would not have sought to intervene and would have supported either a yellow or a red card based on the referee’s communications.

Verdict / Insight: It is important to note that Gabriel is quite fortunate to finish the match without receiving a red card for violent conduct. His action of directing his head towards Haaland in an aggressive manner was certainly imprudent. Haaland remaining on his feet, which many would not have done, likely allowed Taylor to manage the situation with a broader perspective.

The contact, in reality, probably did not involve excessive force, and thus, one could argue that a reasonable outcome was achieved. However, it was a gamble on referee Taylor’s part, as had the game concluded differently, with City winning, his decision to issue only a yellow card could have been a pivotal moment.

In my view, Gabriel should have been dismissed. It constituted an attempted violent act, and irrespective of the degree of contact or injury to his opponent, the action fulfilled the criteria for a red card.