Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Main Event

Harri Burton

Mon 20 April 2026 11:30, UK

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Gabriel Magalhaes should have been sent off during Arsenal‘s defeat to Man City, and Erling Haaland was “spot-on” over the situation.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that anyone arguing against a sending off is “forgetting that football is played with the feet”.

Anthony Taylor was attempting to stop emotions from bubbling over, and in the 83rd minute, he booked both players for a scuffle in the centre of the pitch, only for replays to show something more sinister.

Many supporters believed that Gabriel should have seen red during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 19 April, and Haaland argued that the result would have been different had he pretended to be hurt.

Erling Haaland too honest for his own good vs Arsenal

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “I’ve listened to comments from former referees saying that this wasn’t a red card. I think they’re forgetting that football is played with the feet. 

“It’s an aggressive act. I can’t see any reason why it’s not a red card. This player clearly moves his head into the face of his opponent. 

“When you look at a hair pull as an act of violence, it’s interesting, because are the FA going to look at this and potentially upgrade it? I think not. He’s got to go. He’s headbutted someone.

“And Haaland is absolutely spot-on. Had he gone down, that would have closed the book to the referee. But what does that mean? Can you thump an opponent and shake their hand afterwards, just so it’s not a red card? Follow the law.” 

Anthony Taylor could have handled emotions better at the Etihad

The duo could have gone into the referee’s notebook much earlier, with the two stars getting wrapped up in an incident just 38 minutes into the game.

Gabriel was all over the City striker’s back, and Hackett feels that had the referee intervened earlier in the game, the headbutt incident could have been avoided altogether at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “What’s surprising is that with Anthony Taylor, we’ve seen him get his cards out, and his intervention here should have resulted in two yellows. 

“It would have killed it instantly. I don’t think there’s clarity for the VAR to act on a hair pull. It’s not clear enough to go in and say that’s the case.

“A couple of cautions would have sorted it, and the whole point is prevention. I love those types of duels, but here, I’d be keeping a close eye on it to prevent escalation.”