Sunderland’s narrow 1–0 victory over Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby sparked plenty of debate, not just because of the result, but because of two flashpoint moments that left many fans asking the same question: how did Sunderland finish the match with all eleven players still on the pitch?
Sky Sports pundits Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd have now weighed in, and their verdict was clear. In their view, neither incident crossed the line into red-card territory, and VAR had no role to play.
The derby itself was tense, scrappy and full of emotion, exactly what you would expect from a fixture of this magnitude. Newcastle were desperate to spoil the party on Wearside, while Sunderland were determined to defend their turf.
In the end, the decisive moment came in unfortunate fashion for the visitors, as Nick Woltemade diverted the ball into his own net, handing the Black Cats all three points. But while the goal settled the scoreline, it did not settle the arguments that followed.
Much of the post-match discussion centred on Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. Already booked for dissent, Brobbey was involved in a moment that made Newcastle supporters furious. As Lewis Miley moved to control the ball, Brobbey appeared to come down on the midfielder’s ankle.
Play was waved on by referee Peter Bankes, and VAR did not intervene. For many watching, it looked like a second yellow card offence at the very least.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher explained why the officials saw things differently. From his point of view, the key issue was what the referee saw in real time. Gallagher noted that while one replay angle made it look worse, the referee’s view suggested Brobbey’s foot came down alongside Miley’s rather than directly on him.
That, in Gallagher’s opinion, explains why no foul was given at all, let alone a second booking. He also stressed that VAR cannot step in for possible yellow card offences, which immediately limited what could be done after the decision on the pitch.
Jay Bothroyd echoed that sentiment and urged viewers to be careful about judging incidents based purely on slow-motion replays. He felt that the challenge looked clumsy rather than malicious and described it as an unfortunate coming together between two players both trying to win the ball.
For Bothroyd, it was a foul at most, not a yellow card, and certainly not a sending-off. He warned against the modern tendency to treat every bit of contact as worthy of punishment, arguing that football is still a physical game.
The second major talking point involved Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele and Newcastle’s Dan Burn. The two collided heavily while sliding for the same ball, with Burn getting there first and taking a painful blow to his ribs.
The Newcastle defender was later taken to hospital, which only heightened emotions around the incident. Mukiele was shown a yellow card, but some felt the challenge deserved more severe punishment.
Again, Gallagher offered a calm explanation. He pointed out that both players committed fully to the challenge and that the timing was incredibly tight. Burn reached the ball just a fraction earlier, and that slight difference was the only thing separating a clean tackle from a collision.
Gallagher described it as one of those moments that simply happen in football, especially in high-intensity matches played at speed. In his eyes, it was an honest challenge rather than reckless play.
Bothroyd went even further, suggesting that the yellow card shown to Mukiele was harsh. He sympathised with Burn and acknowledged how painful rib injuries can be, but maintained that the collision was not deserving of a booking.
He felt that the slick, wet pitch played a big role, with momentum carrying Mukiele into Burn after the ball had already been played. For him, it was an unavoidable clash rather than foul play.
Together, the Sky Sports duo painted a picture of a derby that was physical but not dirty. They accepted that both incidents were uncomfortable to watch, especially given the stakes and the injuries involved, but insisted that neither reached the threshold for a red card.
Their key message was simple: referees must judge what they see in the moment, not what looks dramatic when slowed down and replayed from multiple angles.
For Newcastle fans, that explanation will do little to ease the frustration of another painful derby defeat. Losing to Sunderland is hard enough without feeling that decisions have gone against you.
For Sunderland supporters, the analysis will feel like validation that their team competed hard but fairly and deserved to celebrate a massive local victory.
In the end, the debate highlights how fine the margins are in modern football. Split-second decisions, referee positioning and the limits of VAR all play a role in shaping matches.
In a derby filled with passion and pressure, those margins were always going to be scrutinised. Gallagher and Bothroyd may not convince everyone, but their verdict was firm. From their perspective, the referee got the big calls right, VAR stayed in its lane, and Sunderland’s win stands without an asterisk.
