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Matty Hewitt

Ex-referee explains why Liam Cooper's Leeds United foul was a yellow and Casemiro shown red card

Former Premier League referee Dermott Gallagher believes Leeds United defender Liam Cooper was correctly shown a yellow card, despite a strong challenge on Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha. The Whites captain lunged in to win the ball just inside the Fulham half, with Peter Bankes handing out a yellow card.

The incident was brought to light on Sky Sports, with their panel reviewing why it was the correct decision, rather than a red card being shown.

Gallagher told Ref Watch on Sky Sports: "Not for me. I talk about players going low. Both players are reaching for the ball, the ball is loose.

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"If you look, Cooper has got the ball, he's got the ball with his studs and he's gone through the ball. It's not as if he's gone over the ball.

"We saw one earlier in the season with Casemiro where he actually went over the top and into the shin. But he doesn't I think they both connect. For me, not a red card."

When asked about the similarities between Cooper's foul on Palinha and Casemiro being shown a red card for a foul on Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz in the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last month.

"I think what I just eluded to there, Casemiro hits the top of the ball and follows through," Gallagher said. "He catches him right in the middle of the shin.

"When a player plants his studs in the middle of the shin, face on, the referee is always going to send him off, we saw Casemiro there and Shinnie last week."

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