Dermot Gallagher labelled 'PGMOL puppet' by fellow ex-Prem ref - 'Stop digging'

There was immense contention during Liverpool's triumph astatine Southampton arsenic Saints were awarded a contentious punishment and were past infuriated arsenic they were denied 1 erstwhile Adam Armstrong was challenged by Caoimhin Kelleher

Dermot Gallagher has been slammed arsenic "the PGMOL's puppet" by ex-referee Keith Hackett aft defending Samuel Barrott's determination to contradict Southampton a punishment against Liverpool connected Sunday.

Liverpool bushed Saints 3-2 arsenic Mohamed Salah scored a brace pursuing Dominik Szoboszlai's opener, with the hosts doubly equalising done Adam Armstrong and Mateus Fernandes.

There was immense contention implicit Barrott's officiating during the crippled arsenic Southampton were awarded a punishment contempt Andy Robertson appearing to foul Tyler Dibling connected the borderline of the box.

There were besides questions asked implicit wherefore Armstrong was not awarded a spot footwear during different incidental aft being taken down by Reds keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Speaking arsenic a refereeing pundit connected Sky Sports, ex-official Gallagher argued that Barrott had already blown his whistle anterior to Kelleher's situation for Armstrong pulling connected the garment of Conor Bradley.

"The referee gave a foul determination for Armstrong pulling backmost Conor Bradley," helium said. "If you spell backmost to the archetypal image, you spot the referee whistling before."

His effect drew laughter from chap panelists earlier big Rob Wotton disagreed, saying it was a "red herring" due to the fact that Kelleher had forced him airborne by crashing into him. He past asked Gallagher plainly if it was the close decision, but helium replied: "I tin lone archer you what the referee has given."

Hackett, who officiated arsenic a FIFA referee betwixt 1981 and 1991, responded to Gallagher's investigation connected Twitter and was acold from impressed. He wrote: "Dermot erstwhile you are successful a spread halt digging. Your mentation is not justifiable. Say what YOU deliberation Dermot delight bash not beryllium a puppet of the PGMOL. You are amended than that."

The 2024-25 play has seen a fig of contentious VAR calls and refereeing decisions and Southampton brag Russell Martin was furious with a fig of decisions - including Armstrong not being fixed a penalty. VAR did not intervene implicit the incident.

"Adam Armstrong not getting a punishment astatine 2-1 up, I person a large contented with that. After watching it backmost successful slo-motion, it’s what VAR is determination for,” helium said.

"Adam is trying to play the ball, the goalie tries to play the shot and misses it and collides with Adam. So successful my sentiment it’s a penalty. It’s not the crushed we lose, but astatine 2-1 that’s a big, large moment."

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