Former Premier League referee backs Micheal Oliver’s decision on Dias tackle

Ruben Dias's tackle on Ben White

Former Premier League referee backs Micheal Oliver’s decision on Dias tackle

Stephen Oladehinde 17:08 - 27.04.2023

Ruben Dias was lucky to have escaped a red card during the game against Arsenal on Wednesday after kicking Ben White in the first half with the incident being reviewed by VAR.

Ben White, an Arsenal defender, got the ball near the corner flag during the game against City when Dias challenged him in a violent duel that put the City player on the ground.

The Portuguese international appeared to have elevated his boot with the stud open as he was on the ground and stomped it into White's knee. Oliver whistled for an Arsenal free-kick and issued Dias a warning for the incident.

The Video Assistant Referee David Coote checked the incident but decided nothing was in it to be given a red card.

VAR and Oliver made the right call says Clattenburg 

Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League official, backed Michael Oliver for not dismissing Ruben Dias for his challenge on Ben White.

According to Clattenburg, Coote had probably been observing how much force Dias had applied to his kick toward White. The former referee claimed that the defender used little physical force and that a yellow card was the appropriate decision.

Speaking in an interview, Clattenburg said, "I think what they did is look 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 it was a yellow card offence.

City’s rampage against the Gunners

Dias was able to avoid picking up a second yellow card during the game as his side enjoyed running riot on the Gunners. 

Pep Guardiola's side took the lead with Kelvin De Bruyne and doubled their lead when John Stones headed in from De Bruyne's free-kick.

De Bruyne scored his second of the evening nine minutes after with a pass from Erling Haaland. And the Norwegian striker also made sure his name was on the scoresheet as he fired home at stoppage time.

As Oliver blew for full-time, Ben White had an altercation with Phil Foden. Perhaps a sending-off for Dias would have changed the situation of the game.