Man City get emphatic Elliot Anderson handball verdict amid Sunderland and Arsenal frustration

Manchester City have been reassured that referee Robert Jones and VAR Michael Salisbury were right not to award Sunderland a penalty during their 5-3 victory on Sunday. The Black Cats were left frustrated in the second half when the ball hit Elliot Anderson's hand in the penalty area as the midfielder tussled for possession with Enzo Le Fee.

In his post-match press conference, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris was adamant that a penalty should have been awarded. "It was hard to see that as not a handball. It is what it is and we have to accept the decision. It's hard to comment," the manager said.

Reviewing the incident on the latest episode of Ref Watch, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher insisted the officials got the decision correct. "I didn't think it was a penalty when I saw it yesterday, and I don’t think it is a penalty now," Gallagher said.

"I think there's a lot of interesting things in it. If you look, first of all, when it comes in, the first offence there, the handball, is by the Sunderland player. As it runs on, it strikes Elliot Anderson on the left arm. Watch this. Comes off the Sunderland player, onto the left arm, ricochets onto his right arm. He turns, it hits his hand. His right arm is the one that slaps it away.

"That's what people haven't seen. This will show you there. Contact here is on his left arm. Goes up onto his right hand. He's turning his body.

"He's got no chance of moving. His arms are already there. He hasn't moved his arm. It's turning into the ball. It strikes him, there's no doubt about that. But I still think, if that's given as a penalty, it will be overturned, because they will say, It's just not a deliberate handball. It's just a consequence."

Gallagher was then asked if the penalty had been awarded on field, if it would have been allowed to stand or overturned as an error by Jones. "Well, it wasn't an error because the referee didn't give it," Gallagher added.

"I think the VAR would clearly say, no, it's not, because it's come off the Sunderland man onto his left arm there. It's cannoned onto his right hand as he's turning. It's not going to be given as a penalty."

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