Referee Sam Barrott was right not to show a red card to Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope against Arsenal, according to the Premier League’s key match incidents panel.
Pope came rushing out of his area in the 74th minute and brought down Viktor Gyokeres during the Gunners’ 1-0 win at the Emirates.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt Pope should have been sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
“It’s a clear red card,” Arteta said after the match. “I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card.”
But the panel unanimously backed the referee’s decision to only show Pope a yellow card, with Malick Thiaw close by.
The panel supported the caution “due to the proximity of the covering defender, the ball was out wide, and the attacker didn’t obviously have control of the ball”.
No video assistant review from Jarred Gillett was also backed 5:0.
