Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher insists that the correct decision was made to award Crystal Palace a penalty in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal yesterday (Sunday).
Palace were awarded a penalty in the first half of the contest following a VAR review, after referee Martin Atkinson had initially booked Wilfried Zaha for what he perceived as a dive after he went down in the box under a challenge from Arsenal defender Calum Chambers.
But replays showed there was contact, and the decision was overturned, with Luka Milivojevic scoring from the spot to spark Palace's comeback, having trailed 2-0 at the time of the penalty award.
And Gallagher said that the right decision was made, adding that Zaha did not dive and should not have been shown a yellow card.
"I think it's what the VAR is for," said Gallagher, speaking as part of Sky Sports' ref watch feature.
"Martin [Atkinson] thinks he [Zaha] has gone over too easily and has dived. But when you look at it, it's quite clear that he fouled him. VAR is absolutely correct to bring it back and give a penalty while rescinding the yellow card for the diving. It's not a dive."
Zaha was also involved in another incident towards the end of the game, with the Palace star being brought down by Matteo Guendouzi as he looked to break in the closing stages, with the score at 2-2.
But the Arsenal midfielder cynically fouled him before he could get away, with the Frenchman being shown a yellow card by Atkinson, which Gallagher said was also the right decision.
“I think the fact he brought his arms down very quickly, rather than getting him in the face. He ends up grabbing him around the waist. It’s the most cynical foul you will ever see," said Gallagher.
"But where it is on the field it doesn’t meet any of the criteria for a red card."
