Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher clarifies that David Brooks grabbed Marc Cucurella's shirt, not his hair, in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth

Monterosa

Monterosa

DERMOT'S VERDICT: "The VAR recommends a review because he thinks there's a possible act of violent conduct.

"I wonder if the VAR thought Brooks pulled Cucurella's hair. It looks as though his hair is pulled back.

"Brooks actually grabs the front of Cucurella's shirt. The referee looked at it for a long time and discussed it.

"He came to the conclusion that Brooks pulled the top of his shirt which is why you get the clothesline effect. The referee deemed it reckless rather than violent because it was a grab of the shirt.

"His opinion was it stopped a promising attack. It wasn't violent conduct - he didn't grab his hair or throat."

'Jones studied incident and didn't knee-jerk"

Dermot Gallagher on Rob Jones's decision to not send David Brooks off:

"I think Brooks grabs Cucurella by the top of the shirt. By doing that it shows the shirt coming out. I wonder if that gives the VAR the impression he's grabbed him by the hair.

"It's all about has he grabbed him at the top of the shirt or by the throat? The referee has looked and looked. Rob Jones hasn't knee-jerked and given him a red card. He's studied it."

'Brooks could have broken Cucurella's jaw'

' Paul Merson on the Brooks-Cucurella incident:

"He could have easily broken his jaw, it was dangerous. If a player is in danger, I thought it was a red. I can't see anything but [a red].

"He went over and watched it himself, I can't see how he didn't give a red. I was amazed. For me, they dodged a bullet there Bournemouth."

Did Cucurella provoke Brooks?

INCIDENT: Marc Cucurella collided with David Brooks in an off-the-ball incident during the first half which left the Bournemouth forward on the deck.

DERMOT SAYS: "Cucurella has been very cute because he's done it behind Rob Jones' back. The assistant could be watching the offside because the ball has gone through. Cucurella has seen his chance and blocked Brooks off. If the referee sees it then he gets a yellow card.

"It was a long time later [the second incident]. There was also half-time. A lot happens between that incident and the 53rd minute."

'It's a clumsy tackle - an easy decision to give'

INCIDENT: Bournemouth are awarded a penalty when Moises Caicedo brings down Antoine Semenyo.

DERMOT SAYS: It is clumsy tackle, he does not get the ball, the referee [Robert Jones] is in the perfect position - an easy one to give if you have the right view as he takes his leg away and the ball is the clue, it does not move.

'VAR can't get involved in Arsenal corner - not in its remit'

INCIDENT: Arsenal are awarded a corner despite the ball appearing to go out off of their winger Leandro Trossard. Gabriel then scores the winner against Tottenham at the set piece - but why did the VAR [Peter Bankes] not get involved?

DERMOT SAYS: "This is a real shame as it is all about consequence. The referee [Simon Hooper] makes the decision from where he is, he does not see the ball strike Trossard, which it definitely does, he gets the last touch, it should be a goal kick.

"The corner comes across, if it gets knocked out of play we do not talk about it, but it goes in the net and suddenly the consequences are ramped up.

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