Joao Pedro threw an elbow towards the head of Yehor Yarmoliuk during Brighton’s 0-0 draw with Brentford on Friday night, but despite VAR looking at the incident, he escaped punishment because he didn’t make contact
Joao Pedro threw an elbow towards the head of Yehor Yarmoliuk during Brighton’s 0-0 draw with Brentford on Friday night, but despite VAR looking at the incident, he escaped punishment because he didn’t make contact Joao Pedro threw an elbow towards the head of Yehor Yarmoliuk during Brighton’s 0-0 draw with Brentford on Friday night, but despite VAR looking at the incident, he escaped punishment because he didn’t make contact
Brighton star Joao Pedro would have earned an “easy” red card against Brentford if his elbow connected with Yehor Yarmoliuk’s head, claims Mark Clattenburg.
Pedro was lucky to avoid an early bath during Brighton’s 0-0 draw with Brentford after appearing to show frustration during a duel with Yarmoliuk, swinging his arm around towards the Ukrainian after he pulled at his shirt but narrowly missing.
VAR officials reviewed the footage but opted not to send Pedro off, with the Premier League later releasing a statement explaining why he avoided punishment.
“The referee’s call of no red card to Joao Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clear and obviously wrong,” the statement read.
Former Premier League referee Clattenburg agreed with the decision, but warned that it would have been an “easy” decision for referee Andy Madley if Pedro had made any contact.
Clattenburg said: “If we look at the laws of the game as it’s written, it has to be to strike an opponent or attempt to strike an opponent. Because there was no contact he can’t be sent off the field of play for the contact. Therefore, it’s whether he attempted to strike the opponent. The more I look at it, because it’s an unusual action, especially from behind he is looking towards Andy Madley when he swings his arm. He keeps his arm quite close to his body and I think it’s more of a gesture to the referee.
“Andy Madley is in a very good position. He couldn’t have been sent off for the contact but he could have been sent off for the attempted contact. I believe it’s a gesture more than an attempted strike.
“I think Joao Pedro makes a gesture to the referee but if he wanted to swing and use brutality he would have swung his arm out and created contact.”
Co-commentator Andy Townsend added on Prime Video: “I don’t believe Joao Pedro should be red carded for this but he can’t be throwing his elbow out like that.”
Fans were left baffled by the decision, however, and said the intent from Pedro meant he should have been sent off. One fan wrote on Twitter: “It’s madness that anyone can look at that and say it’s not a red.” Another said it was irrelevant that Pedro hadn’t made contact, saying: “That’s far worse than [Jhon] Duran’s yesterday. When it’s that deliberate, does the connection really matter?”
A third sarcastically wrote: “Good to know that players can throw punches now as long as they miss they’ll be fine”, and a fourth added: “A disgrace. Red card all day. Intent was clear.”
The result continues Brighton’s poor recent form, which extends to six games without a win as Pedro was unable to inspire them to a much-needed three points. It also prolonged a sticky patch of form for Brentford and meant they still haven’t won an away game in all nine matches on their travels this season.
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Mirror – Sport