Dermot Gallagher explains why Alex Gogić red card reversal against Aberdeen was 'brilliant' call
Dermot Gallagher has explained why John Beaton and his VAR team made a 'brilliant' call to reduce Alex Gogić's red card against Aberdeen to a yellow on Saturday afternoon.
The St Mirren star launched himself at Shayden Morris during the first-half, clattering into the Dons winger and sparking fury among the travelling support in Paisley.
That fury turned to relief when at 1-0 down the Reds thought they had gained the man advantage, with Gogić shown a straight red card by Beaton for the hefty challenge.
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However, VAR delayed his dismissal and after a lengthy intervention, his red card was downgraded to a yellow with replays showing the Buddies ace did win the ball, despite going studs up on Morris.
Jamie McGrath pulled Aberdeen level before St Mirren's Richard Taylor made sure the points would stay in Renfrewshire, handing the Dons their first league defeat under Jimmy Thelin.
"I think this is a brilliant intervention of VAR..."
Dermot Gallagher agrees with the decision to downgrade Alex Gogic's red to a yellow in St Mirren's win against Aberdeen pic.twitter.com/WgQZSOKnqv— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 25, 2024
The general consensus post-match leaned towards the correct decision having been made, and the incident was pulled under the microscope on Ref Watch.
Former Premier League referee Gallagher did agree with the Scottish pundits that a yellow card was warranted because of the dangerous nature of the challenge, but praised the officials for correcting the initial sending off.
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Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he said: "I think this is a brilliant intervention of VAR because you look at that and you think the referee has seen him jump through the air.
"But he doesn’t get the man, he actually gets the ball. So the referee sends him off, he thinks it’s dangerous. But you see he clearly gets the ball.
"By the fact he makes the challenge like that, even though he gets the ball, I think it’s reckless. So the VAR has recommended the downgrade."
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