Howler! Gibbs mistakenly sent off after Oxlade-Chamberlain handball on the line... as blunder ref Marriner says sorry

By Rob Draper

PUBLISHED: 08:14 EST, 22 March 2014 | UPDATED: 16:23 EST, 22 March 2014


Referee Andre Marriner has issued an abject apology after he sent off the wrong player in Arsenal’s humiliating 6-0 defeat by Chelsea, which appeared to end the north London club’s title hopes.

The dreadful error from one of the Premier League’s top referees saw Marriner finally dismiss Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs on 17 minutes, mistaking him for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had dived to tip Eden Hazard’s shot away with his hand.

The error was compounded by the fact that Oxlade-Chamberlain told the referee that he had committed the offence and that Hazard’s shot appeared to be going wide, so the referee could have deemed it a yellow card, judging that it was not an obvious goalscoring opportunity

VIDEO Scroll down to see Oxlade-Chamberlain's recent gym video with Gibbs and Walcott

Mistaken identity: Gibbs (left) is shown a red card despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball

Mistaken identity: Gibbs (left) is shown a red card despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball

Admission: Oxlade-Chamberlain even approached Marriner to tell him it was he who handled the ball

Admission: Oxlade-Chamberlain even approached Marriner to tell him it was he who handled the ball

Not needed: The handball was intentional but not necessary, with the ball going wide

Not needed: The handball was intentional but not necessary, with the ball going wide

The wrong man: Oxlade-Chamberlain protests with the referee, telling him 'It was me'

The wrong man: Oxlade-Chamberlain protests with the referee, telling him 'It was me'


RED OR NOT?

FIFA laws of the game 2013-14: 'A player is sent off if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball.

'The punishment arises not from the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.'

Marriner, a FIFA referee who took charge of last year’s FA Cup final, appeared confused as he made the decision, consulting with his assistants.

But even after Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted to him that it was he who had handled the ball, he stuck by his decision to send off Gibbs.

Marriner is likely to be dropped from at least the next round of Premier League games after the error.

A statement issued by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited said: ‘Andre is an experienced referee and is obviously disappointed that an error of mistaken identity was made in this case.

‘Incidents of mistaken identity are very rare and are often the result of a number of different technical factors. While this was a difficult decision, Andre is disappointed that he failed to identify the correct player.

‘He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made aware of the issue.’

Why me? Gibbs looks frustrated as he departs the pitch after being sent off

Why me? Gibbs looks frustrated as he departs the pitch after being sent off

Aware: Oxlade-Chamberlain looks guilty after handling the ball on the goal-line

Aware: Oxlade-Chamberlain looks guilty after handling the ball on the goal-line

Slotted home: Hazard composed himself to score the penalty and put Chelsea 3-0 up

Slotted home: Hazard composed himself to score the penalty and put Chelsea 3-0 up

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: ‘The referee made a mistake because he missed the identity of the player. He has not seen what happened at all. He gave a corner. I don’t know who told him that it was a penalty. The referee should be able to change his mind, especially if he has not seen it. He should at least check, rather than sending off the wrong player.’

It is expected that Oxlade-Chamberlain will serve the one-match ban rather than Gibbs but it again exposed the embarrassment that can be caused by not allowing the referee to consult with an official who has access to a television replay, a practice opposed by FIFA.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said that the incident demonstrated the need for referees to be able to consult television replays. ‘The sending-off is a big ammunition for people like me that think that one little screen in front of the fourth official is a big help against this kind of mistake.

'The important thing is that the penalty is a penalty and there is a red card — we don’t know who, but we know there is a red card.

SPORTSMAIL'S GRAHAM POLL HAS HIS SAY ON THE INCIDENT

Andre Marriner said he was wrong to send Kieran Gibbs off as it was a case of mistaken identity - replays confirmed what most observers saw at full speed as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the Arsenal man who handled the ball.

However, with the ball seemingly going wide I do not think either player should have been dismissed as there was no denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Nonsensical: Gibbs was extremly unfortunate to be sent off at Stamford Bridge

Nonsensical: Gibbs was extremly unfortunate to be sent off at Stamford Bridge

Marriner did well to detect the devious handball as Oxlade-Chamberlain dived full length and tried to head the ball.

He stated that it was his decision and his alone and while I would accept that from where assistant Marc Perry was standing it was very difficult to see the handball I would expect him to keep his eye on the player and let the referee know who it was to ensure the correct player was dismissed.

It was good to see that Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted to Marriner that he had handled the ball in an attempt to get the Midlands referee to change the red card shown wrongly to Gibbs, but unless one of the other officials tells the referee of his error he will stick to the original decision.

While the dismissal might well not have been pivotal in this game, having access to reviews via replays would have resolved this matter correctly and quickly.

Now Arsenal will send the FA video evidence to get the red card changed from Gibbs to Oxlade-Chamberlain and then, in all likelihood appeal the red card if they have clear evidence that the ball was definitely going wide.

So in the fullness of time the correct disciplinary measures will be applied but spare a thought for two people; Andre Marriner and Kieran Gibbs.

Marriner, who knowing his error, did well to get through the rest of the game unscathed – that isn’t easy. I know as I made worse errors than this one and it is a wretched feeling that you have to drive on through.

But mainly Gibbs, who did absolutely nothing wrong and missed 75 minutes of one of his teams’ key games of the season. Video replays could have prevented that.

Hammer blow: Schurrle strikes from just inside the area to put Chelsea 2-0 up early on

Hammer blow: Schurrle strikes from just inside the area to put Chelsea 2-0 up early on

Early lead: Samuel Eto'o celebrates scoring the opening goal after just five minutes at Stamford Bridge

Early lead: Samuel Eto'o celebrates scoring the opening goal after just five minutes at Stamford Bridge

Dejected: Arsenal gave themselves a mountain to climb after going 2-0 down inside seven minutes

Dejected: Arsenal gave themselves a mountain to climb after going 2-0 down inside seven minutes

‘And after that it would be nice for the referee, because he doesn’t want to make that mistake, and nice for the players that a little screen could say, “Chamberlain not Gibbs”. These are the kind of mistakes no referee wants to make.’

Even though Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted the offence, it would have been impossible for the referee to change his decision on the basis of that confession, as it would allow players potentially to manipulate dismissals and own up to offences they had not committed.

 

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Its obvious just like the classico match etc when you are ten men the game changes arsenal is still in for the title they must beat swansea first then wait for city this league is unpredictable the team am watching closely is LIVERPOOL....they have chelsea and man city........remember this game in hand sunderland,,.if they win this one .........

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United should sign him - De Gea wouldn't have pulled off a save like that.

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Gibbs made No attempt to stay on the pitch . Walked straight off

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He had enough sense to know that the ref wasn't going to change his mind, and he could be sanctioned for not leaving the pitch quickly enough, so what should he do then ? He had already tried to tell the ref it wasn't him ..........!

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Reminds me of a phrase in the Bible'" an OX and an ASS"

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As players complain about perfectly legitimate decisions in every game it was a case of chickens coming home to roost!

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Your all missing the point.....it doesn't matter how badly Arsenal played....the ref gave a decision for an incident neither he nor is official saw. His decision was based purely on he reaction of the Chelsea players and manager.....which is totally unacceptable. He is far too weak to officiate a Sunday league match let alone a premiership one. Chris he could hardly deny he got it wrong could he??

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Chris butler....he could hardly not admit it it could he. EVERYONE is missing the point.......the ref gave a decision based on an incident he nor his linesman saw. He gave it based on the Chelsea players and managers appeals. He doesn't deserve to get paid to referee football matches, he shouldn't even referee sunday league....he is too weak. Arsenal were crap......but the ref and his assistant were worse.

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should have gone to specsavers

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I bet a stranger could have made the right decision. This guy wouldn't be allowed to ref a league one game let alone a premier league game

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I think that the ref assumed that the left back was in position and so assumed Gibbs was the guilty Player . There cannot be any other explanation.The game was won already however in other circumstances It could have had different consequences . I wonder if ref have to revise the identity of players especially with beards being the "fashion".

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