A controversial refereeing decision has dominated the aftermath of the latest Manchester derby, with former Premier League official Mike Dean leading the criticism. Dean has emphatically stated that Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot should have been sent off for a first-half tackle on Manchester City's Jeremy Doku.
VAR Review Upholds Controversial Yellow Card
The incident occurred in the 11th minute of the match, which was Michael Carrick's first in interim charge of United. Dalot's challenge, which caught Doku high on the knee, initially resulted in a yellow card from referee Anthony Taylor. The decision was immediately reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Despite multiple replays appearing to show the severity of the contact, VAR officials opted not to advise Taylor to upgrade the sanction to a red card. This outcome left Dalot on the pitch and United with a full complement of players, a reprieve that baffled the watching experts.
Studio Pundits Unanimous in Their Condemnation
Appearing on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Mike Dean did not mince his words. "It's 100 per cent a red card," Dean declared. "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, the studio panel united in disbelief. The broadcast revealed that VAR had upheld the on-field decision because the contact was deemed a 'glancing blow'. This explanation was met with derision from the former professionals present.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards argued: "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."
Ex-Liverpool and City striker Daniel Sturridge strongly disagreed with the 'glancing blow' assessment, offering a vivid analogy: "That's not a glancing blow, that. That's taking a knee in a boxing match. That right there, it looks like a red." Sturridge suggested that Doku's decision to quickly return to his feet may have influenced the officials.
A Lucky Escape for United and Dalot
The consensus among the analysts was that Manchester United were extremely fortunate to reach half-time with eleven players. The failure to dismiss Dalot represents another high-profile moment of contention for the Premier League's VAR system, which continues to face scrutiny over consistency in major decisions.
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between real-time officiating, video review, and the interpretation of serious foul play. With pundits and a former top referee in clear agreement that a mistake was made, this incident is certain to fuel further discussion about the application of the laws in crucial, fast-paced encounters like the Manchester derby.
