Dermot Gallagher highlights referee 'anomaly' in Morgan Gibbs-White red card storm

Former referee Dermot Gallagher believes the correct process was followed by the officials when deciding to send off Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White against Brighton.

The big flashpoint in Forest's 2-2 draw arrived in the 83rd minute when Gibbs-White went to challenge Joao Pedro, with referee Rob Jones signalling the midfielder had come away with the ball from his risky sliding challenge. However, the end decision disregarded this initial opinion as a second yellow was brandished, resulting in his dismissal.

Nuno Espirito Santo was livid and his protestations earned him an early trip inside also, before finally Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was the third to be sent off as part of the incident for the role he played in the furore.

"I think what didn't help is that when the referee says he's got the ball, you think it is a really good tackle. Fourth official [Anthony Taylor] has got the other angle, he sees it coming towards him, and he says to the referee: 'I think it is worthy of a yellow card.' He's already on a yellow card, so he got sent off," Gallagher explained on Sky Sports' Ref Watch.

Clarifying if a fourth official is allowed to get involved as such, Gallagher answered: "Yes, he's part of the team. That's what he is there for - to assist the referee. He has got the different view, the view coming towards it, and it was him that passed on the information because quite clearly the referee signals he's got the ball.

"He's passed on that information, the referee has acted on it and unfortunately he has already had a yellow card so he gets the second one."

Jones has been a top-flight official for five years now, a much shorter duration than the 14 years Taylor has been decision-making at the top level. Gallagher was then asked if seniority would have had an influence in the final decision to send off Gibbs-White, but he dismissed this notion.

"One has seen it from one angle and the other from another, it doesn't matter who the officials are," the 67-year-old replied. "I go back to the dilemma for me being when the referee signals he got the ball, that's what throws up this anomaly that he's seen it from his angle, Anthony's seen it from his, and he's relayed: 'You might have seen that he has got the ball, but he's gone right through him, cleaned him out'.

"So, in his opinion he'd fed back he thinks its a yellow card. Rob, thinking he has got a better view than me, has gone fair enough. Unfortunately he is already on a yellow card and then it becomes a red. He's part of the team, and an integral part of the team. But, the referee still holds the big say."

Gallagher passed on the duty of deliberating whether the challenge was actually worthy of the eventual punishment to a man he joked 'made a career' out of similar tackles plus in attendance on Sunday to commentate on the match, Stephen Warnock.

The former defender explained: "I was thinking: 'Wow, what a challenge, what a brilliant challenge.' As you say there Dermot, I saw Rob Jones go across, give the ball signal and I thought: 'Good, you've seen it'.

"But, there was an incident in the first half where there was a challenge right in front of the dugout and it caused a bit of a melee just after it and he didn't give the foul. I was saying: 'What is Anthony Taylor doing? If his job isn't to get involved in the game, what's the point of him being there?' This time he gets involved and I think he gets involved incorrectly.

"This is the hardest thing we'll find every week, there has to be momentum with a challenge otherwise you're gonna see the game change completely and we're just gonna end up with a passive game of football."

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