Ex-Fifa offical issues ‘100%’ claim as controversial William Saliba footage emerges at Arsenal
Keith Hackett has praised the decision to allow the winning goal as Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 on Saturday (27 August).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted the officials had to be “100 per cent sure” if they were to rule out Gabriel’s goal for handball or offside.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, VAR checked whether William Saliba had handled the ball in the build-up and if Gabriel was offside when he received it.
On-field referee Jarred Gillett allowed the goal to stand and VAR official Thomas Bramall did not feel he had made a clear and obvious error.
“Well, the thing is the shoulder is no longer part of the arm,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“You’ve really got to justify why you are going to rule a goal out. I think the referee, Gillett, has got this one right.
“It’s not a clear and obvious error so the goal has been allowed to stand, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
“The referee will be looking through bodies so it’s a good thing that VAR checked it. I suspect that might have been stimulated by the referee to check it.
“If you’re going to rule out you’ve got to be 100 per cent sure, you can’t guess.”
Gabriel’s error earlier on in the game had led to Fulham’s opening goal.
His goal at the end of the game was his ninth in Arsenal colours in 74 games across all competitions.
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