Overview
- Referee Anthony Taylor booked Diogo Dalot for his 10th‑minute, studs‑up challenge on Jérémy Doku, and VAR Craig Pawson confirmed the on‑field decision after a check.
- The published Mic'd Up audio captures officials calling the contact 'glancing' with 'no force' and concluding it did not clearly meet the red‑card threshold.
- PGMOL chief Howard Webb said the incident involved mixed considerations and should stay as the referee’s call, adding a red would also have been allowed to stand if shown on the field.
- Former referees and pundits including Mike Dean, Dermot Gallagher, Keith Hackett, Roy Keane and Alan Shearer argued the tackle warranted a straight red and criticised the lack of VAR intervention.
- Separately circulated, slowed footage appears to show Bernardo Silva kicking Bruno Fernandes off the ball, prompting further questions about VAR’s reviews, with no official reversals or disciplinary action announced.