{"id":1114,"date":"2026-04-08T09:03:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:03:41","slug":"gabriel-martinelli-deserves-ban-for-unacceptable-shove-on-ref-fa-must-rip-up-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1114","title":{"rendered":"Gabriel Martinelli deserves ban for &#8216;unacceptable&#8217; shove on ref \u2013 FA must rip up rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_ac806a\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The FA have missed an open goal by failing to punish Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli for shoving a referee &#8211; it should never have been allowed to happen<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">14:10, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 14:14, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36974769\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gabriel Martinelli\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974769.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132621.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974769.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132621.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974769.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132621.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974769.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132621.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Gabriel Martinelli shoved an official during the FA Cup\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gabriel Martinelli shoved an official during the FA Cup<cite aria-label=\"Image: BBC\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: BBC)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It\u2019s the kind of open goal you could be mistaken for thinking even the Football Association couldn&#8217;t miss. The chance of a slam dunk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To make the kind of example of a footballer, future generations of the sport need to see happen. But alas, the FA appear hamstrung by their own rules. Which is a farce in itself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">So we have to stomach the fact that Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli can push a referee live on TV &#8211; and escape with nothing more punitive than a booking. And we wonder why amateur referees up and down the land are turning their backs on football.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36974770\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36974770\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.61\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gabriel Martinelli\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974770.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132610-copy.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974770.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132610-copy.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974770.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132610-copy.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974770.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-132610-copy.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Gabriel Martinelli was punished with a yellow card\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gabriel Martinelli was punished with a yellow card<cite aria-label=\"Image: BBC\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: BBC)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FB!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedailystarsport#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">  Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While those brave enough to take charge of matches every weekend continue to receive intolerable levels of abuse. Sometimes on a physical level.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Martinelli shoved referee Sam Barrott in an attempt to take a quick free kick, as Arsenal chased an equaliser in last weekend&#8217;s shock FA Cup defeat to Southampton. And for some bizarre reason, Barrott decided to book the Brazilian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But what is even more maddening is the fact that because Barrott dealt with the incident at the time &#8211; even though he didn&#8217;t deal with it adequately &#8211; the FA now have no power to take retrospective action and ban Martinelli.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36974775\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36974775\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974775.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Britain-FA-Cup-Soccer-26094762495493.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974775.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Britain-FA-Cup-Soccer-26094762495493.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974775.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Britain-FA-Cup-Soccer-26094762495493.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36974775.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Britain-FA-Cup-Soccer-26094762495493.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup<cite aria-label=\"Image: AP\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: AP)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Footballers putting their hands on an official is unacceptable and wrong. It should never be allowed to happen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And if a referee suffers such an action and fails to take the appropriate decision, which is show a red card to the offender, how can it be right that those who govern the game cannot clean up the mess afterwards?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">How are future generations of footballers, let alone current ones, both professional and amateur, supposed to learn acceptable levels of respect towards officials, when someone like Martinelli shows Barrott none at all?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The rules on retrospective action need ripping up and starting again. Because the current ones stink.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FA have missed an open goal by failing to punish Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}