Eddie Howe believes that only Kai Havertz should have seen red as he talks absolute nonsense following their PGMOL-assisted 1-0 win over Arsenal.
We all saw it it.
Bruno Guimaraes, his head clearly gone, smashed his forearm into Jorginho’s head with no other intention but to smash his forearm into Jorginho’s head.
By every metric, it was a clear red card for a man who had already caught Kai Havertz in the face (nothing was given then, either).
Not according to the ref or VAR.
Or Eddie Howe, who thinks that only Kai Havertz should have seen red.
Sure, Havertz’s tackle wasn’t great, but it wasn’t a red, perhaps only by the dint of fortune.
Still, the rules are the rules, apart from when they aren’t.
Of course.
“For me, that was the only moment in the game where I could see a red card,” Howe said, noting that apart from Havertz’s tackle, he saw no need for the flurry of yellow cards distributed during the match.
Newcastle received five yellows to Arsenal’s one, with four of them coming as they protested Havertz’s tackle.
In total, the ref gave just two fouls against Bruno in the entire game, despite him fouling Havertz, Jorginho (multiple times), Fabio Vieira and Leandro Trossard.
He was finally booked in the 88th minute. On commentary, even Gary Neville laughed that Bruno could have received at least five yellow cards.
Howe described the encounter as ‘bitty’ and ‘stop-start,’ lamenting the numerous controversial moments that he felt were unnecessary. Perhaps he should have a word with his own team if he doesn’t like it.
About the goal, which should have been ruled out because the ball was out of play, Gabriel was fouled AND Anthony Gordon was offside, Howe said, “I thought the VAR check was initially for a foul,” he said.
“I didn’t think it was but potentially Joelinton off the back of Gabriel. That’s all I could see that was possibly wrong.
“But then obviously there’s the three checks. Thankfully none of them were pulled up on.”
It’s was not clear, at the time of writing, if the official on VAR had also gone on the recent trip to Saudi Arabia with other PGMOL refs or if he is just friends with those who did, then I came across the tweet below.
Newcastle, as you know, are owned by the Saudis.
— Link Up Arsenal (@LinkUpArsenal) November 4, 2023