- Gabriel was aggressive towards Erling Haaland
- Avoided red card for lashing out
- Dermot Gallagher backs referee’s decision
Gabriel Magalhaes was controversially spared a red card against Manchester City, but Dermot Gallagher has explained why he agrees with the referee.
Erling Haaland had a lot to deal with against Arsenal, including persistent pressure from Gabriel which at times sparked out of control.
Indeed, the defender was so aggressive with Haaland that he tore his undershirt to shreds after grabbing hold of it during the game.
Then with only a few minutes left to play, things got heated between the pair and Gabriel appeared to headbutt the Norwegian forward.
However, referee Anthony Taylor decided to book both players, as he viewed each of them to be in the wrong.
Dermot Gallagher offers his backing to Anthony Taylor
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has come out in support of Taylor after his decision not to give Gabriel his marching orders.
Although Gallagher believes Gabriel was unwise, he reckons the decision was ‘fair’ because Haaland was aggressive during the match as well.
"I think it's a fair outcome" 🤝
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 20, 2026
Dermot Gallagher believes the referee made the right call in not sending off Gabriel during Man City's win over Arsenal 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/kBBPn9CbVs
“It was a very fair outcome, both of them were aggressive, throughout the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake,” Gallagher told Sky Sports Ref Watch.
“Gabriel is very unwise what he does, it is not the cleverest thing to do and he runs a risk, but if you look, he actually goes does the front of him and not through him, he does not head but him.
“But he is very, very lucky that Haaland was very, very responsible because if he hits the deck, the whole landscape changes and the referee has a different situation to deal with.”
Jay Bothroyd says Gabriel was lucky
Gallagher and his co-panelist Jay Bothroyd often disagree with each other, and this was the case again regarding the Haaland and Gabriel incident.
The former Arsenal player has claimed that by the letter of the law, Gabriel deserved to be sent off for his ‘violent conduct’.
"He's very lucky"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026
Should Gabriel have seen red? 🟥 pic.twitter.com/pDjN7OfvFB
He said: “Gabriel was lucky – when we look at the rules, it is violent conduct if you put your head into someone’s face, that was violent conduct and we have seen other people get sent off for that kind of movement towards someone’s head.
“What Haaland said is absolutely right – if he goes down holding his face there, he is going to get a red card and then he is banned for three matches.”
Haaland’s reaction saved Gabriel
It is true that Haaland was not entirely innocent and a yellow card was probably a fair outcome for him.
However, Gabriel had to be shown a red for what can only be described as an absolute head loss moment.
Anyone else to commit such an offence would be sent off and the only reason he was not is because Haaland remained standing.
This sets a dangerous precedent, as now players are being encouraged to dive and fake injuries in order for justice to prevail.
How Haaland responded is completely irrelevant. Gabriel lashed out, and he should not be serving a three-match suspension.
