Ref Watch: Three decisions wrong in Tottenham vs Brighton | Celtic ‘lucky’ vs Rangers | Football News

Dermot Gallagher dissects the flashpoints from the weekend’s football action, suggesting there were three wrong decisions in Brighton’s defeat at Tottenham.

Tottenham 2-1 Brighton

INCIDENT: With Spurs leading 1-0, Kaoru Mitoma’s goal is ruled out for handball but replays show it may have hit his chest.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “I found this a difficult decision. I was of the opinion it was high up his arm, the assistant wasn’t, the VAR checked and they sided with the assistant.”

DERMOT SAYS: “The key thing here is that the goal is ruled out on the field.

“You can see the assistant point to his arm to show where it is. Does it hit Mitoma’s chest or his arm? The assistant is adamant.

“The VAR looked and looked and looked, and felt that what the assistant said was correct. On that basis they have to go with the on-field decision.”

INCIDENT: VAR rules out Alexis Mac Allister’s goal for handball after he deflects in Danny Welbeck’s shot

DERMOT’S VERDICT: Unlucky but correct decision when applying the laws of the game.

DERMOT SAYS: “I think he’s desperately unlucky but it has struck his arm.

“It’s hit his hip and his arm, and the law says if it goes in off your arm the goal is disallowed.

“He has no idea the ball is going to hit him like that, but it is not a goal.”

INCIDENT: Lewis Dunk appeared to have his shirt grabbed by Clement Lenglet when going to win a header in the Tottenham penalty area.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: Lenglet lucky to avoid giving away a penalty.

DERMOT SAYS: “Lenglet puts two hands on him and when you do that you run a massive risk. Again, the referee is looking at it but waves it away.”

INCIDENT: Mitoma goes down under Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s challenge but VAR says no penalty, along with referee Stuart Attwell.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: Wrong decision. Brighton should have been awarded a penalty.

DERMOT SAYS: “The referee has got the perfect position. He should just give a penalty.

“The referee quite clearly says ‘no’ but Hojbjerg doesn’t get anywhere near the ball.

“Whether he think Mitoma has thrown himself to the floor, I don’t know, but I think it’s a foul.”

PGMOL apologises to Brighton for VAR not giving penalty against Spurs

The PGMOL has admitted a mistake was made by the match officials and VAR when not awarding a penalty to Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League game against Tottenham.

Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, has apologised to Brighton and held talks with them about the decision-making process in the game.

It is the third apology the club have been given by PGMOL this season for decisions made on the field.

MORE HERE

Assistant ref Hatzidakis won’t officiate until Robertson investigation is over

Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will not officiate until an investigation over an alleged elbow on Andy Robertson has been completed, the PGMOL has confirmed.

Hatzidakis was approached by Robertson as the half-time whistle blew during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, with the defender insisting the assistant referee had struck him in the throat seconds later.

Robertson was given a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney for his role in the incident, while Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson approached the officials to discuss the incident.

A statement from the PGMOL read: “PGMOL will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any of the competition it serves whilst The FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at Anfield.”

Ref Watch on Robertson incient: Any different to Mitrovic? Warnock: It looks like assault

Stephen Warnock suggests Hatzidakis could be facing a lengthy ban for his part in the incident with Robertson, comparing it with a similar incident involving Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

INCIDENT: The ball hit Vladimir Coufal’s hand before he dug out a cross in the build-up to West Ham’s goal at Craven Cottage.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: Goal right to stand.

DERMOT SAYS: “The question is whether it is handball against Coufal?

“Does the ball hit his arm? Yes. Does it lead directly to a goal? No.

“It has to be deemed to be deliberate, which the officials didn’t.

“At no point did the handball set up the goal or score the goal. So, unfortunately for Fulham, it’s a goal.”

Celtic 3-2 Rangers

INCIDENT: Alfredo Morelos tapped in Borna Barisic’s corner, only to be penalised by referee Kevin Clancy for a push on defender Alistair Johnston. Nick Walsh and Daniel McFarlane – who were on VAR duty – agreed with Clancy’s decision, leaving the visitors furious.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: Celtic got lucky.

DERMOT SAYS: “I think Celtic are very, very lucky.

“Both players are grappling so for me, it’s best to let it go. Celtic just got lucky.”

Rangers to write to SFA over disallowed Morelos goal | ‘It’s embarrassing’

Rangers will write to the Scottish FA for an explanation over why Morelos’ first-half goal at Celtic Park was disallowed, Sky Sports News understands.

The Ibrox side went on to lose 3-2 and are now 12 points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic with seven games to go.

Following his first league defeat as Gers boss, Michael Beale said: “We definitely deserved something from the game. There are one or two decisions that I think have gone against us, so I’m a bit disappointed with that.

“Certainly, in terms of the goal Alfredo scores first half, their boy [Johnston] isn’t trying to play the ball and if you look at Alfredo’s shirt and the number on his back it’s twisted round to his left shoulder. That would prove that both were at it.”

Sky Sports co-commentator Ally McCoist questioned the decision and said: “It is absolutely embarrassing the way we are running VAR. We are a laughing stock. He gives him a little nudge.”

Fellow co-commentator Andy Walker agreed with McCoist, while Sky Sports‘ Kris Boyd didn’t hold back in the studio, adding: “It’s embarrassing.

“It’s a contact sport, Alistair Johnston has a grip of Alfredo Morelos and Alfredo Morelos has a grip of him as well.

“Then all of a sudden he decides to fall forward because he’s caught under the ball.

“The both of them are at it. There is a push from Morelos – he’s just trying to free himself.

“For me, I don’t think there’s enough in it to be given as a foul and if it was at the other end, the Celtic fans and Celtic players would be of the exact same opinion.”