Dermot Gallagher has been speaking about the penalty given against Cristian Romero in the NLD yesterday and branded the Tottenham man ‘lucky’.
Romero was adjudged to have handled the ball near the line and after a review, the penalty was given which Bukayo Saka duly dispatched.
However, while some experts called the decision harsh, former PL referee Dermot Gallagher said Romero was lucky not to be sent off.
Demot Gallagher talks about Cristian Romero’s handball in the match against Arsenal
Speaking on Sky Sports this morning, Gallagher admitted he thought the officials did the right thing.
However, he also said that Yves Bissouma’s position effectively prevented Romero’s expulsion.
“He probably felt unlucky to have to take a penalty, but I think he was also very lucky because what people don’t realize is that if Bissouma wasn’t behind him, “he wouldn’t have could have been sent off as he would have been heading towards goal without a defender. So his bad luck in taking the penalty turned into good luck in the presence of Bissouma,” said Gallagher.
It was yet another controversial moment this season but this time, it didn’t have too much of an impact as Heung-Min Son scored immediately afterwards.
VAR continuing to dominate games
There is no question that we are discussing refereeing decisions and VAR more than ever. Indeed, why would Sky have a full show on it every week if not?
The Arsenal v Tottenham game was a cracking affair but once again we are left talking about a number of decisions afterwards.
Gallagher’s point here though is interesting. Had Romero been sent off, then the whole game would have changed massively.
In the end, then, it seems Spurs weren’t quite as hard done to as they might have thought.
