Haaland Could Have Won Red Card for Gabriel Head Push
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has admitted he could have "fallen on the floor" to ensure Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes was sent off during their fiery Premier League showdown, but chose to stay on his feet. The incident occurred in the 83rd minute at the Etihad Stadium, with tensions boiling over between the two players.
Incident Sparks Controversy
The altercation began when Haaland gave Gabriel a push from the side after being fouled from behind by the Arsenal centre-back. Gabriel reacted by moving his head towards Haaland's, with their foreheads touching momentarily. He then made a second movement, pushing his head forward again towards the Norwegian striker.
Haaland did not retaliate, and teammates from both sides quickly intervened to separate them. Referee Anthony Taylor showed yellow cards to both players for their involvement, while the incident was reviewed by VAR official John Brooks.
VAR Upholds On-Field Decision
Brooks determined that Gabriel's contact with Haaland's head was "not deemed to be excessively aggressive or violent", agreeing with Taylor's initial assessment. This decision means Gabriel will be available for Arsenal's crucial final five games of the season, including upcoming fixtures against Newcastle, Fulham, and West Ham.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola received his seventh booking of the season while protesting the lack of harsher punishment, even mimicking a headbutt on the touchline to emphasize his point.
Haaland's Honest Admission
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Haaland was candid about the situation. "If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would be red card," he said. "I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face."
The striker's restraint drew praise from Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva, who called Haaland an "animal" for his physical battle against Gabriel and William Saliba. "Erling was fantastic today, fighting for every ball," Silva told Sky Sports. "It's not easy with two centre-backs that strong. Apart from the goal that he always scores, today he fought like an animal."
Contrast with Other Decisions
The decision has raised eyebrows given recent similar incidents. Just days earlier, Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair during a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Additionally, Gabriel avoided an earlier yellow card after ripping Haaland's undershirt during another grapple earlier in the match.
With the VAR check complete and the incident seen by the referee, Gabriel faces no further sanction and will be available for Arsenal's title run-in, adding another layer of intrigue to the Premier League's final weeks.
