Kieran Trippier avoided getting sent off as Newcastle held Manchester City to a draw on Sunday evening - but not everyone agreed with the decision to overturn his red card.
The England defender was originally dismissed in the second half of a pulsating Premier League clash following a reckless, off-the-feet lunge on Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, with no intent to win the ball. However, referee Jarred Gillet was summoned to the pitchside monitor to review the tackle, and he decided it only warranted a yellow card.
This proved to be a vital moment as Newcastle were able to see out the remaining quarter of an hour to secure a 3-3 draw and a point at home against the reigning champions. But while Gary Lineker supported the decision to overturn the red card, Jamie Carragher saw things very differently.
"Agree with VAR decision. Cynical foul but yellow the right colour," Match of the Day host Lineker wrote on Twitter. In contrast, Carragher said: "That Trippier tackle is going to be a red in the future. It's not a leg breaker, but why should a player be able to take someone out at knee height with no intention of winning the ball?"
Trippier's challenge and whether it deserved a yellow or a red card is sure to be talked about for many days, with plenty of other pundits weighing in with their opinions. Former Everton forward James McFadden told BBC 5Live : "It's a clumsy tackle, no serious foul play, it's not excessive force. The beauty of VAR is you get the chance to see the full challenge and see exactly what's happened. I think that's the right decision."
Meanwhile, Trippier was forced to insist he would never try to injure a player during his post-match interview. The right-back said: "I would sacrifice everything for my team and I want to win but I'm not the type of player to injure anyone. I spoke to Kevin after the game and the ref overturned the decision."
Did Kieran Trippier's tackle deserve a red card? Have your say in the comments...
On the Magpies' overall performance, Trippier added: "We wanted to go toe-to-toe with them [City] and I thought we did that throughout the match. Manchester City are a top side and they have the quality to get themselves back in the game but it shows just how far we have come since January. The lads are disappointed after being 3-1 up, but we have to take the positives."
The result leaves Newcastle sixth in the Premier League table after a victory and two draws in their opening three fixtures. City, meanwhile, sit second, trailing leaders Arsenal by two points at this early stage of the season.
