Football fans on Twitter/X have reacted to Dermot Gallagher’s “spineless” comments on Michael Oliver’s decision to give Diogo Dalot a red card against Liverpool on Sunday.
Dalot’s Red Card Against Liverpool
With the game drawing to a close and scores still tied in arguably the most drab northwest derby in living memory, Diogo Dalot thought he had won a throw-in against Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
However, as Michael Oliver gave the decision Liverpool’s way, Dalot reacted angrily by shouting and swinging his arms.
As a result, Oliver booked Dalot for dissent, who again reacted angrily to the decision, which led the referee to brandish a second yellow card, sending Dalot for an early bath.
The decision has received widespread criticism from across the footballing world, but one one man who believes the referee made the correct decision is former referee, Dermot Gallagher.
https://twitter.com/PoorEPLreferees/status/1736456504050319782
Gallagher On Dalot’s Red Card
Speaking to Sky Sports about the incident, Gallagher said: “I think it was the right decision to send him off,” Gallagher said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s a good look from Dalot, it’s not the image we want fans to remember from the game.
“Whether you like it or not that’s the remit that the referees have been given for dissent, hence why there are so many yellow cards given for dissent this season.
“It’s difficult because the game has changed from 50 years ago when I used to referee during the black-and-white era of TV. Everything is forensically diagnosed.
“It’s so, so difficult because this is not an exact science.
“On one hand, you say to me I don’t want two yellow cards for Dalot, but two minutes later you say you want a yellow for [Mohamed] Salah and three for Nunez. I have nowhere to go.
“Whichever way I jump, you will say I’m wrong.”
Twitter/X Reacts To Gallgher’s Comments
Dermot Gallagher has built somewhat of a reputation as a refereeing yes-man, perpetually refusing to criticise members of the refereeing union no matter how glaring the mistake.
As a result, it seems football fans on Twitter/X have finally had enough.
@SkySportsPL can you get a referee with a spine? One that is bold enough to admit whenever his colleagues are wrong. Dermot Gallagher is a waste of slot damn it. pic.twitter.com/9PwPcoxVyF
— NIMI (@Nimiofficial) December 18, 2023
Dermot Gallagher has correctly identified that the 2 decisions can’t be justified logically in a consistent manner.
But instead of saying “the referee got 1 wrong” he’s saying “why are you forcing me to defend inconsistent decisions”. We aren’t! Just say 1 was wrong. https://t.co/01woh1ANKR
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) December 19, 2023
Dermot Gallagher winds me up so much
Literally just on TV to defend the referees
“Whichever way I jump, you will I’ll say I’m wrong”
No, either send both Nunez and Dalot off or neither of them… It’s only complicated when you try and justify both of the decisions https://t.co/GAH96ulgBb
— Andy Castell (@AJ3) December 19, 2023
One of the things that Dermot Gallagher show illustrates is that despite all the technology, so much of officiating is still just down to someone's opinion and that opinion varies greatly within a game even though it shouldn't. There simply is no way to explain how Nunez wasn't a…
— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 18, 2023
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