Joachim Andersen is Lucky to avoid being sent off after allegedly punching Jefferson Lerma. Dermot Gallagher, a former Head Association arbitrator, takes a look back at the most contentious minutes from the final games of the week on the most recent episode of Ref Watch. Joachim Andersen allegedly hit Jefferson Lerma in the nose while battling for a Bournemouth corner kick with the game scoreless, causing Lerma to fall to the ground. Given that the referee doesn’t seem to have seen the incident, a thorough VAR review determines that the Crystal Palace defender was not at fault. He didn’t develop enough speed since the VAR didn’t think it was a swing at the player. But given that, he is quite fortunate.
If the referee had witnessed you punch someone in the face with a clenched fist, I believe they would have shown you the red card. The clenched fist, which travels just far enough to break his nose but not very far, is what I believe to be the key. There is no doubt that it was done with retaliation, and he is really lucky. The referee probably won’t notice it because of the amount of bustle at a corner. Erling Haaland gets struck in the face by Jordan Pickford’s hand as the two players chase a high ball in the Everton area.
Joachim Andersen lucky to avoid being sent off after allegedly punching Jefferson Lerma
Man City’s forward is injured, yet the referee permits play to continue and VAR does nothing. Similar to Pickford, Haaland delivers. He knows where he will go and is very happy to stay there, so he makes little effort to play the ball. Once the referee declares there was no penalty on the pitch, which I believe is correct, the VAR won’t overturn that decision. I believe Haaland has just as good a view as Pickford, according to the saying “the referee has the best view.” If the goalkeeper takes the goalkeeper’s side, it may be said that they always support him.
