Premier League clarifies why Gabriel escaped red card for 'headbutt' on Erling Haaland in Arsenal's defeat to. Haaland sends message to Gabriel after 'headbutt' controversy...

Erling Haaland has spoken out following a controversial clash with Gabriel Magalhães during Manchester City’s 2–1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, a result that has reignited the Premier League title race.

The win saw Pep Guardiola’s side close the gap to just three points behind Arsenal, with a game still in hand. Haaland once again proved decisive on the scoresheet, but his involvement extended beyond the goal, as he was at the center of one of the match’s most heated moments.

The tension between Haaland and Gabriel had been building throughout the game, with the Brazilian defender tasked with closely marking the Norwegian striker. Their physical battle led to repeated clashes, reflecting the high stakes of a match that could shape the outcome of the title race.

The flashpoint came in the 83rd minute when Gabriel pulled Haaland down near midfield. The two exchanged words before confronting each other at close range. Gabriel then appeared to nudge his forehead forward into Haaland, prompting strong reactions from Manchester City players and home supporters, who demanded a red card.

Despite the intensity of the incident, both the referee and VAR judged that it did not warrant a dismissal. Instead, both players were shown yellow cards after the situation was brought under control.

Speaking after the match, Haaland said, "I think it's always like this. A lot of fighting and these kind of things."

He added, "That's others to decide if I won that battle. Of course, I scored the goal. I won that battle in the decisive moment, the cross was perfect. It was a great goal. In the end, we win.”

His tussle with Gabriel didn’t even win a free kick. The Manchester City striker was furious at the decisionCredit: Reuters

Haaland also suggested that Gabriel was fortunate to remain on the pitch, hinting that the outcome could have been different had he reacted differently in the moment. He explained, "If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face."

The incident quickly became a major talking point among pundits. Gary Neville expressed disbelief that Gabriel avoided a red card, stating, “Now why did you do that, Gabriel? You can put your heads against each other, I got done in a game a long time ago, the moment you throw it forward you get a red. I can’t believe that’s not a red to be honest.”

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean offered a more balanced perspective, saying, “They have gone head to head, it’s not excessive force by Gabriel, the way the game has gone with them two, I’d say a yellow card is just right, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if Gabriel had been sent off.”

He further emphasized, “Just looking at it again, Gabriel is very lucky not to be sent off. I think he’s very lucky, very lucky indeed.”

Another former referee, Mark Halsey, suggested that Haaland’s reaction played a decisive role in the referee’s decision. According to him, "Haaland has helped Gabriel avoid a red card by not going down after the head contact," and added, "If Haaland had chosen to fall, there would have been a very high chance of a dismissal."

Haaland himself appeared to acknowledge this after the match, admitting, "I think if I had gone down there, maybe Gabriel would have been sent off." He also expressed surprise at receiving a booking, saying he did not understand why he had been shown a yellow card.

The Premier League later issued clarification supporting the referee’s decision, explaining that Gabriel’s action was not deemed excessively violent or aggressive enough to warrant a straight red card. As a result, both players were correctly cautioned.

Earlier in the match, Gabriel had already been involved in another physical moment with Haaland, tearing the sleeve of the striker’s undershirt during a challenge. The Norwegian forward later changed his shirt and threw the torn one into the crowd.

The repeated clashes between Haaland and Gabriel highlighted the intensity of the encounter, underlining how every duel, every decision, and every moment could have a direct impact on the outcome of the title race.