During Manchester City’s top-of-the-table encounter with Arsenal, Ruben Dias kicked out at Ben White and received a yellow card.
The match was considered a heavyweight clash that would likely decide the title, but the first half was completely one-sided.
Kevin De Bruyne scored the opening goal for City in the seventh minute, and John Stones added a second before the interval, putting Pep Guardiola’s men in complete control.
However, just before the break, White was seen rolling on the ground clutching his ankle after an incident with Dias.
Both sets of players began pushing and shoving each other. Moments earlier, White had shoved Dias to the ground and delivered a small kick at the City defender.
In response, Dias flicked out a boot at White, making contact with the Arsenal star’s leg and receiving a yellow card.
While VAR checked the incident, the Portugal international received just a yellow card, to the dismay of the Arsenal fans.
However, according to a former Premier League referee it was the correct decision.
Mark Clattenburg on Neves incident
Mark Clattenberg insisted there was not enough force in Dias’ kick to warrant a sending off.
He said on BT Sport: “Yeah what I think they did is they looked for a potential red card.
“Did Ruben Dias use any force in the challenge with the kick out to Ben White?
“He didn’t, it was more of a petulant kick and therefore the VAR was correct in identifying that was a yellow card offence.”
Dispatching City at the Etihad was always going to require a stroke of luck for Arsenal.
The north Londoners’ recent record against City at this stadium is dismal. Before this evening, they had lost seven consecutive games to Pep Guardiola’s men and 14 out of their last 15.
In fact, their only positive result against City in the last six years was a 2-0 FA Cup final win in July 2020.
In the league, Arsenal last claimed victory against City in December 2015, and since then, they have only managed two draws and 12 defeats, including 11 straight losses.
Fans reaction
One said: “That should be a RED for Dias. That’s a kick in the back of the leg with his cleats.”
Another added: “How come that’s not a red card for Dias there?”
A third replied: “Ruben Dias literally kicks White in the calf out of pure anger and doesn’t get a red card. It’s amazing what amount of luck infinite billions can buy.”
And a fourth responded: “Dias knew what he was doing. Definitely a red card for me…”