Overview

• Gabriel Magalhaes made contact with Nick Woltemade’s face in a kick-off tussle after Newcastle’s opener, yet referee Jarred Gillett took no action and VAR did not intervene.
• Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett described the incident as a violent act and said VAR should have sent the referee to the monitor for a potential red card.
• Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher argued it did not meet the VAR threshold for a dismissal but said a yellow card was likely if the referee had seen it.
• Woltemade told Sky Sports he felt an elbow to his face and that Gabriel apologised, and pundit Jay Bothroyd suggested a stronger reaction might have triggered a VAR review.
• Gabriel remained on the pitch and headed the late winner in Arsenal’s 2-1 comeback, prompting frustration from Newcastle voices and renewed criticism of kick-off routines that lead to melees.