Metro - Kyle Walker was lucky to avoid a red card after a VAR review decided against sending the Manchester City full-back off for a headbutt on Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
City and Brighton and Hove Albion were contesting the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley when there was an altercation between Jahanbakhsh and Walker after the half hour mark.
The City defender reacted angrily to a shove in the back from Jahanbakhsh and with both players forehead to forehead, Walker appears to aim a headbutt at his opponent.
Walker’s movement fails to connect with Jahanbakhsh and brushes down the winger’s face as he moves backwards, FA rules state there only needs to be an attempt to strike an opponent for an offence to occur.
The decision was reviewed by VAR, but referee Anthony Taylor and his team decided against sending Walker off. Pep Guardiola then hooked Walker at half-time for Danilo.
BBC’s punditry team agreed Walker was fortunate to avoid a red card, with Martin Keown saying on commentary: ‘He should have been sent off. When you see the slow-mo, he leans his head in. He gets away with it.’
Alan Shearer echoed Keown’s comments at half time, while football fans were left baffled by the decision.
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I recon Walker owes the Brighton lad and players a debt of gratitude... how many players drop to the ground when this happens ? pic.twitter.com/hcGeCSNFVg
— Carl Oakes (@oakieone) April 6, 2019