Dermot Gallagher raised a few eyebrows inside the Sky Sports studio when giving his verdict on a possible penalty shout in Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Brighton on Sunday.
The former top-flight official was making his customary Monday morning appearance on Ref Watch when he gave his take on the home side’s claims for a spot kick after the ball struck Virgil van Dijk’s arm inside the box.
Referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved but the incident infuriated Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi to the point where he was shown a yellow card for dissent.
Gallagher sided with the former, saying: “The evidence is there for everyone to see. It clearly strikes his thigh. His arm is by his side. It bounces up a few feet. It hits him, there’s no doubt about that, but you’d be absolutely stunned if a penalty was given for that.”
That verdict left the Sky Sports presenter in studio astonished, with a gasp of “Really?”.
We’re with the ex-Premier League referee on this one. As he correctly observed, the ball was hit at Van Dijk from close range and struck his thigh first before deflecting up onto his arm.
The handball issue can be a thorny one, but it would’ve been ridiculous if a penalty were given in that instance. Taylor got it right.
You can view Gallagher’s verdict on the penalty shout below, via @footballdaily on Twitter/X:
🗣️ “You’d be absolutely stunned if a penalty was given.”
Dermot Gallagher on the Virgil van Dijk handball against Brighton. 💭 pic.twitter.com/iJZDdLXNkO
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 9, 2023
VVD, Dioga Jota and Jones sent off for less than what Kovatic did and Gross for that matter. English officials are consistently inconsistent.
Spot on mate
Take it or leave it var in english football are nothing bt a disgrace “a cheat and manipulator” if van dijk culd be givn a red card against newcastle utd why nt apply same whn szcboslai was brought down against brighton. VAR establishment is to take time, review nd correct mistakes in games nd probably make decisions. Bt when u see VAR needing another VAR Which means “it cukd be that we all are wasting our time watching a fixed or already manipulated match darren england nd dan cook claimed they taught the onfield ref have awarded diaz the goal after a selfish check, nd when they saw same score they kept quiet. Var can only fool themselves not football lovers. Their apology is never enough in a game like that. “VAR INTENTIONALY DISSALLOWED A PURE,TRUE AND OUTSTANDING LUIS DIAZ GOAL” Selfishly this is nothing but shame to english football.
Correct application of the handball rule in the LOTG.