There are thirteen players currently sitting on four bookings in England’s top flight. Among them are United’s Bruno Fernandes, Spurs’ Yves Bissouma and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz.
Some believe the latter was fortunate not to be sent off against Newcastle last weekend after a reckless challenge on Sean Longstaff. The German midfielder came hurtling in off the ground with his studs showing, but luckily for him and the Magpies star, he only made contact with his trailing leg.
Anthony Gordon, Fabian Schar and even Longstaff, who was on the receiving end of the tackle, were all booked for dissent after challenging the referee Stuart Attwell’s decision. However, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher believes Attwell and the VAR team that checked over the challenge got it right.
Although he felt Havertz was lucky to complete the game after continuing to lunge in recklessly. “If he had got a red card, he couldn’t argue. It’s quite ironic that history has rewritten itself on Saturday,” he told Sky Sports.
“This reminds me so much of (Mateo) Kovacic a few weeks ago, where I think he was right on the cusp to get a red card and he got a yellow card. I think, again, the referee has given the benefit of the doubt here.
“He’s flying through the air, he’s reckless. He catches him with his wrong foot, luckily, because if he catches him with his first foot, I don’t think Longstaff would be getting up.
“Luckily for him, he also arrives low. If he got sent off, he couldn’t argue, but I’d back the referee on the yellow card. I think what saved him is that it’s his wrong foot. It’s a yellow card. It’s not nice but he got lucky with how he caught him. But what I find hard is that, later in the game, I can’t see how he finished the match…”
