Premier League Key Match Incidents panel – Rules on Newcastle v Man City controversy | OneFootball

The Premier League Independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel is in the news once again.

The KMI panel has five members, made up of three former players and/or coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and PGMOL.

It was set up at the start of the 2022/23 season to give an independent assessment of decision-making rather than relying on the views of PGMOL or the clubs themselves.

The judgement is intended to provide an arm’s-length assessment of all major match incidents but gives weight to the decision of the referee in subjective situations, taking into account the laws of the game and the Premier League’s interpretation.

Anyway, the Premier League Independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel are making headlines again, this time regarding incidents at the weekend.

The five members of the panel ALL agreeing that it was correct to award Newcastle United their penalty against Manchester City on Saturday.

It was ridiculous how certain people went on, especially supposed ‘neutrals’ in the media, in claiming it shouldn’t have been given.

It was the clearest of penalties, with TV replays showing for sure that Ederson had missed the ball and only made contact with Antony Gordon, bringing him down.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes should not have been sent off in Sunday’s Premier League defeat against Tottenham, the Key Match Incidents panel has ruled.

Fernandes has subsequently escaped a three-match ban following a successful appeal from Manchester United.

The KMI panel, made up of five members, includes three ex-players and managers. It unanimously voted the was on-field decision was incorrect.

“Fernandes is reaching, the contact is high but certainly not excessive force or endangering the safety. The evidence is also there for a VAR intervention,” the panel wrote.

The panel unanimously felt that the on-field decision of a red card was incorrect and there was enough evidence for the video assistant referee to overturn the decision.

“The panel also felt that the assistant was responsible for leading this decision,” it added.

Manchester United trailed Tottenham 1-0 when captain Fernandes was dismissed on 42 minutes at Old Trafford.

The panel unanimously supported the decision of referee Jarred Gillett to award Newcastle a penalty against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.

City goalkeeper Ederson was adjudged to have made contact with Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon in the 56th minute.

Gordon scored from the spot to earn Newcastle a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

There was a split on the panel when it considered Peter Bankes’ decision to give Chelsea a penalty in their 4-2 win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge on the same day.

Cole Palmer scored the penalty after Brighton striker Georginio Rutter was deemed to have fouled Jadon Sancho.

A 3-2 majority on the panel sided with Bankes’ on-field decision, with the two voting against feeling that Rutter was “entitled to run that line” and stating it “looks worse due to the closing gap”.

The panel was unanimous in its backing of referee Samuel Barrott for not showing a second yellow card to Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori during their 4-2 win against Leicester.

Calafiori was shown a yellow in the 49th minute but escaped further punishment for a tackle on Leicester loanee Facundo Buonanotte in the 70th minute.