Sky Sports pundits Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd have expressed their disapproval of the booking given to Sunderland winger Bertrand Traore during his team’s recent 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Traore, who was making his full debut for Regis Le Bris’ side, was shown a yellow card for simulation after a collision involving Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, despite replays indicating there was contact before Traore went down.
In discussing the incident on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch segment, Gallagher highlighted the complexity of the situation, stating that the decision to take action against Traore was unnecessary. Bothroyd contributed by emphasizing the challenges faced by players in avoiding contact and the nuances involved in determining a dive. Both pundits agreed that the referee’s call to penalize Traore for simulation was unwarranted, given the circumstances.
Gallagher further explained the pressure on officials to crack down on simulation, noting the increased scrutiny on such incidents due to the prevalence of VAR. Bothroyd expanded on this, suggesting that players may be more inclined to go down easily knowing that VAR can magnify minimal contact and potentially swing decisions in their favor.
The conversation also delved into another contentious moment during the match when Sunderland were initially awarded a penalty for a high boot on Trai Hume by Benjamin Sesko, only for the decision to be overturned after VAR review. Gallagher commended the officials for ultimately making the right call based on the video evidence, while Bothroyd questioned why the referee didn’t trust his own judgment considering his proximity to the incident.
Overall, the pundits’ analysis of the refereeing decisions in the Manchester United vs. Sunderland clash highlighted the complexities of officiating in modern football, particularly in light of VAR’s influence and the intense scrutiny on simulation and foul incidents. Their comments shed light on the challenges faced by both players and officials in navigating these intricate situations on the field.
