Referee Michael Oliver’s decision to send off Arsenal midfielder Leandro Trossard during the thrilling 2-2 draw against Manchester City has been validated by the key match incidents panel. Trossard received a red card in first-half injury time after he kicked the ball away following a foul on Bernardo Silva during the match on Sunday. This incident marked the second time in a month that Arsenal has faced a dismissal for delaying the restart, with Declan Rice also sent off in a 1-1 draw against Brighton earlier this month.
The panel, responsible for reviewing significant refereeing decisions in the Premier League, stated: “Trossard clearly delays the restart by kicking the ball away.” However, the panel’s decision was not unanimous, a member noted that the “split-second nature of the kick” could be considered a mitigating factor. At the time of Trossard’s dismissal, Arsenal was leading the match 2-1.
However, Manchester City equalized in dramatic fashion, with John Stones scoring a late goal in the 98th minute of stoppage time, allowing City to regain the top spot in the Premier League..
