Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has been cleared of any wrongdoing after the Premier League’s Key Match Incident Panel reviewed his controversial challenge on Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
The incident happened during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea on September 6, when Gabriel’s boot made contact with Martínez’s face while both players were competing for a loose ball.
Martínez received medical attention, but referee Chris Kavanagh did not show Gabriel a red card. VAR also reviewed the incident without recommending a dismissal.
The panel has now backed the referee’s decision, with all five members unanimously agreeing that Gabriel should NOT have been sent off.
The panel explained that several players were involved in the challenge for the loose ball and concluded that Gabriel’s actions did not amount to violent conduct or serious foul play.
Had he received a straight red, it would have been the first of Gabriel’s Arsenal career. His two previous Arsenal dismissals came after receiving second yellow cards.
The decision comes after Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea, with Kai Havertz equalising before Martin Ødegaard scored the winning goal in the second half.
Gabriel escaped punishment in that match, but Arsenal’s defensive concerns resurfaced against Sunderland, when Ezri Konsa conceded a penalty. David Raya saved the resulting spot-kick.
Mikel Arteta later expressed his frustration with the decision to award Sunderland the penalty, insisting after reviewing the incident from multiple angles that it should not have been given.
