Garth Crooks has written on BBC Sport that Arsenal central defender Gabriel should have been sent off for his challenge on Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward believes that the referee should not have changed the red card he showed to Arsenal centre-back Gabriel to a yellow.
Arsenal got the better of Leeds 1-0 away from home at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday.
England international star Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the match in the first half.
There was a very controversial moment late in the game.
In stoppage time, referee Chris Kavanagh sent off Arsenal’s £27 million (The Guardian) defender Gabriel for kicking out at Leeds and England international striker Bamford.
Leeds were also awarded a penalty.
However, after Kavanagh reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, he overturned both the decisions.
Gabriel’s red card was reduced to a yellow, and former Tottenham forward and BBC Sport pundit Crooks was not impressed.
Garth Crooks on Gabriel v Patrick Bamford in Leeds United v Arsenal
Crooks wrote: “And why Gabriel saw his late red card for violent conduct rescinded is a complete mystery because that’s what it was – regardless of what the video assistant referee at Stockley park said. There was a time when the referee’s decision was final, VAR has changed that.”
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