Ex-PGMOL Chief Gives Verdict on Whether Gabriel Deserved a Red Card Against Chelsea
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has offered his verdict on the controversial incident involving Arsenal defender Gabriel and Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates.
Gabriel caught Martinez in the head with his boot during a scramble for the ball, but the Arsenal defender escaped without receiving a card.
According to Sky Sports, VAR reviewed the incident but decided not to recommend any further action, with the contact deemed accidental.
Arsenal eventually secured a 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. However, the game could potentially have taken a very different direction had Gabriel been sent off in the first half.
Wayne Rooney Believes Gabriel Was ‘Lucky’
Speaking on Match of the Day, former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believed Gabriel was fortunate to remain on the pitch.
Rooney said the replay showed Martinez already had the ball in his hands when Gabriel’s boot made contact with his head.
He argued that Gabriel was nowhere near the ball and that the challenge was excessive enough to warrant serious punishment.
Former Manchester United teammate Ashley Young shared Rooney’s view, questioning why VAR did not intervene after seeing the incident.
Young also felt Gabriel had escaped punishment after making contact with Martinez while the goalkeeper had possession of the ball.
Keith Hackett Sees It Differently
Hackett, however, disagreed with the former players after carefully reviewing the footage.
The former PGMOL boss explained that the referee did not have a clear view of the incident and believed Gabriel’s actions lacked any malicious intent.
Hackett therefore classified the contact as accidental and backed VAR’s decision not to intervene.
He later clarified his position on X, arguing that the incident could have been considered reckless at worst and therefore worthy of a yellow card.
However, because VAR cannot intervene for a yellow-card offence, Hackett maintained that the incident did not reach the threshold required for a red card.
The incident has therefore produced a notable split between former players who believed Gabriel was fortunate and a former elite referee who felt the decision not to send him off was correct.
Arsenal’s victory also maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, while Chelsea remain fourth after Matchweek 3.
