Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has insisted that Diogo Dalot‘s knee-high tackle on Jeremy Doku was ‘100 per cent a red card’, after the Portuguese escaped with just a booking in the Manchester derby.
Manchester United made a fast start in what was Michael Carrick‘s first match in charge since being named interim manager until the end of the season, but his side risked going down to 10 men in the 11th minute after Dalot caught Doku on the knee.
As the Belgian got back to his feet, referee Anthony Taylor issued Dalot with a yellow card – but the Manchester United full-back was not out of the woods yet as the decision was under review by VAR.
Despite looking even worse on the replays than in normal time, VAR decided not to overturn Taylor’s decision to the surprise of former Premier League referee Dean.
Appearing on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, Dean said: ‘It’s 100 per cent a red card. At normal speed, you can’t tell but the replays aren’t good. It’s high, across the kneecap. Red card, all day.’
At half-time, Sky Sports’ pundits were equally baffled by the decision, insisting that United were extremely fortunate to head into the break with 11 players on the pitch.
Diogo Dalot was only shown a yellow card for a knee-high tackle on Jeremy Doku on Saturday
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was shocked that Dalot escaped without a red card
Daniel Sturridge rubbished VAR’s explanation that the contact on Doku was a ‘glancing blow’
Former Man City star Micah Richards said: ‘He’s on top of his knee! That’s as clear a red card as you’re going to see. I mean, what more do you want? It’s studs on the knee.
Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones then interjected by stating that the on-field decision was upheld by VAR because Dalot’s contact ‘was a glancing blow’, a verdict the studio pundits firmly disagreed with.
‘That’s not a glancing blow, that,’ Daniel Sturridge protested. ‘That’s taking a knee in a boxing match. That right there, it looks like a red. If I’m Doku, I’m staying down. If he stays down longer there…’
‘He’s helped him definitely,’ Keane added. ‘I agree with you.’
More to follow.
