Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dropped his verdict on whether or not Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was fortunate to escape a red card.
Manchester United’s seven-match unbeaten run since the start of 2024 came to an end on Saturday after Fulham’s 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils had won four consecutive Premier League matches in February before Marco Silva’s men snatched all three points in injury time.
Calvin Bassey fired Fulham into the lead at Old Trafford in the second half before Harry Maguire produced an equaliser for United in the 89th minute.
However, Alex Iwobi smashed the ball past Andre Onana deep into injury time to inflict a major blow on United’s top-four Premier League ambitions this season.
Maguire was booked in the first half by referee Michael Oliver after he caught Sasa Lukic’s foot while attempting to recover the ball following his poor first touch.
However, Dermot Gallagher was now asked if Michael Oliver could have produced a red card and sent off the former United captain for the tackle.
Gallagher on Maguire challenge
During Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Harry Maguire’s challenge on Sasa Lukic was brought up due to the controversy around Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour.
Billy Gilmour was sent off in the second half of Brighton’s 1-1 draw with Everton after he produced a similar challenge to Maguire’s on Amadou Onana.
Despite Gilmour’s dismissal at the Falmer Stadium on Saturday, Dermot Gallagher played down the idea that Maguire should have received a red card for his tackle.
“I think it [Maguire’s yellow] was the right decision,” he said.
“We’ve seen a number of these tackles this weekend and they’ve got foot on foot.
“If you see that, yellow card, low point of contact. If you’re looking for a red card, you want the contact to be higher up.”
Gallagher talks Maguire and Gilmour
Gallagher insisted that Oliver made the right call with Maguire due to the United star’s first instinct to retrieve the ball and how his tackle was not intentional.
The former Premier League referee added that it was only “split seconds” for England defender Maguire to immediately lunge in for his tackle after his bad touch.
However, Gallagher pointed out that Gilmour’s challenge, unlike Maguire’s, had him following through and he ended up catching the shin of Amadou Onana.
Speaking on Maguire’s challenge, he said: “You’re talking about split seconds. It’s a bad first touch and his first reaction is ‘I’ve got to get this back quickly.’
“He overstretches for the ball and I think Michael [Oliver] is quite right with a yellow card.”
Gallagher added on Gimour’s tackle: “This is all about [the] point of contact. He does get the ball but he does follow through and [does] catch him on the shin.
“Once the referee decides red card, the VAR is never going to overturn it.”
READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
