West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen wrongly booked v Arsenal – Dermot Gallagher
Jarrod Bowen should not have been booked for simulation during Arsenal’s win over West Ham on Sunday, according to ex-FIFA referee Dermot Gallagher.
Bowen was given a yellow card by Mike Dean after he evaded a high challenge from Aaron Ramsdale, with no contact made between the two.
But speaking to Sky Sports during their ‘Ref watch’ segment [May 2nd], Gallagher said that while he doesn’t believe the tackle was dangerous enough to warrant a red card for the goalkeeper Bowen didn’t dive and shouldn’t have been booked.
“People talk to me and say ‘is it a red card offence?’, he said.
“Well for a red card offence it would have to be serious foul play. I’m not saying he didn’t go to take the player, I think he wants to stop the player there’s no doubt about that.
“I think it’s very, very difficult to send a player off when there’s no contact been made for a serious foul play offence. I say difficult but I don’t say impossible.
“On this occasion I think the goalkeeper is rash, he took a risk. Bowen had to evade him, there’s no doubt about that, and that’s why I think no yellow card. I think the referee, if he gave a throw in it would be more acceptable.
“I don’t think it’s a red card. I do think it’s rash. I think the goalkeeper has in his mind, ‘I’ve got to stop this player,’ and I think he’s got lucky. Bowen is the one I feel sorry for.
“I’m very, very glad he didn’t suffer injury, but I think he was unlucky to get a yellow card.”
Poor
Dean has always been one of those referees who loves to make the game all about him, and this incident seemed to show that again.
Replays clearly showed that Ramsdale’s tackle was high and dangerous and if Bowen didn’t move to avoid any contact he likely could have faced serious injury.
A player shouldn’t have to get clattered and hurt to earn a foul and Dean got this decision wrong. Plain and simple, West Ham were affected negatively by it.
The general consensus around the decision is the same too, with many believing that Bowen was treated harshly in this instance and Ramsdale essentially gets away scot-free despite endangering an opponent.
At this point though, the main thing is that the 25-year-old didn’t get hurt and a yellow card doesn’t affect him going forward, but it’s one the officials should be looking at going forward or face further scrutiny in games and seasons to come.
In other West Ham news, Tony Cottee says West Ham need ‘five or six’ summer signings, names two players to target
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