Howard Webb
January 2026
Webb said officials were correct to book Dalot rather than send him off for a studs-up challenge on Doku that sparked debate. Webb argued the contact was brief and glancing and lacked the speed and intensity typical of serious-foul-play reds, warning that slow motion and freeze frames exaggerate force and distort real-time assessment that referees and VAR must prioritise.
Gabriel Martinelli
January 2026
Martinelli will not face further FA punishment after a late flashpoint in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool, where he pushed Bradley while Bradley was down injured. The referee booked Martinelli during the match and logged it in his report, which normally closes the case for retrospective action. Martinelli later apologised, saying he misread the situation.
Moises Caicedo
December 2025
Mikel Merino described Moises Caicedo’s studs-up challenge on his ankle as a “horrible” tackle that he always believed warranted a red card, recalling how his joint bent awkwardly and admitting he was relieved to avoid serious injury before later heading Arsenal’s equaliser. Initially booked, Caicedo saw his punishment upgraded after Anthony Taylor consulted the pitchside monitor and ruled the excessive-force challenge endangered Merino’s safety, with the Spaniard revealing he did not speak to the midfielder afterwards and stressing that mobility and luck prevented a potentially much worse outcome.
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
August 2025
Liverpool fans raged after referee Anthony Taylor and VAR ignored a clear handball by Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi against Hugo Ekitike in their Premier League opener. Supporters slammed the decision as disgraceful and called for accountability in officiating. Just 12 minutes into the new season, Senesi deliberately handled the ball to stop Ekitike’s run, but avoided punishment. The decision reignited debates on VAR’s consistency, with accusations of incompetence clouding the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.
