{"id":32257,"date":"2026-05-02T08:46:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T08:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/premier-league-committee-admits-gabriel-should-have-been-sent-off-for-headbutting-erling-haaland\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T08:46:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T08:46:29","slug":"premier-league-committee-admits-gabriel-should-have-been-sent-off-for-headbutting-erling-haaland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/premier-league-committee-admits-gabriel-should-have-been-sent-off-for-headbutting-erling-haaland\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League committee admits Gabriel should have been sent off for headbutting Erling Haaland"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es avoided a red card for headbutting Erling Haaland during the Gunners’ game against Manchester City last month, but the Brazilian reportedly should have been sent off.<\/h2>\n
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12:31, May 1, 2026<\/span>Updated May 1, 2026 12:31<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Gabriel appeared to headbutt Erling Haaland last month (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Arsenal star Gabriel deserves a red card for headbutting Erling Haaland, the Premier League committee has ruled. The Brazilian defender escaped a red card after appearing to throw his head at the Manchester City striker during a clash at the Etihad Stadium last month.<\/p>\n
Neither referee Anthony Taylor nor VAR deemed the incident worthy of a red card, and both Gabriel and Haaland were cautioned. VAR John Brooks ruled the headbutt was “not overly aggressive or violent” and did not intervene.<\/p>\n
However, the Premier League committee has now given its opinion, admitting that Gabriel should have indeed been sent off. The Premier League’s Major Match Incidents Committee voted 3-2 in favor of a red card, arguing that the “excessive forward movement of Gabriel’s head” should be considered an act of violence.<\/p>\n
However, two other panelists argued that there was “little force or initial backwards movement from Gabriel.” And while it was accepted that a red card was warranted, the panel actually voted 4-1 against VAR intervention.<\/p>\n
read more: Arsenal star Declan Rice could face Champions League sanction as UEFA launches investigation<\/span><\/span>read more: Mikel Arteta points out issue over Declan Rice and Gabriel Arsenal clash<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Follow the Arsenal FB page! For the latest Gunners news and details, visit our dedicated Facebook page.<\/p>\n
Had Gabriel been sent off, he would have received an automatic three-match ban for violent behavior, meaning he would have missed not only the win over Newcastle but also the next games against Fulham and West Ham.<\/p>\n
Manager Haaland gave his verdict on the incident shortly afterwards, claiming Gabriel could have been sent off if he had been a little more dramatic. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: \u201cI think it\u2019s always like this, a lot of fights and things like that.<\/p>\n
“It’s up to others to decide whether I won that battle or not. Of course I scored the goal. In the decisive moment I won that battle. The cross was perfect. It was a great goal. In the end we win.”<\/p>\n
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Anthony Taylor only ruled the incident merited a yellow card (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
He added: “If I went to the floor there, which I won’t unless someone really attacked me, then it would be a red card. I don’t know because I haven’t seen the situation. That’s the way it is. It’s not going to go to the floor. For me, I don’t understand why he would come in my face.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former Manchester United star Gary Neville was left baffled by Gabriel remaining on the pitch. In commentary he said:<\/p>\n
“You can butt heads with each other. I ended up in a game a long time ago. The moment I threw it forward, I got a red. Honestly, I can’t believe it wasn’t a red.”<\/p>\n
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![\"Gabriel](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37097352.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2272083420.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"anthony](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37097354.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2272073073-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/)
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