‘What you have to say’: Dermot Gallagher shares whether Scamacca should actually have been sent off yesterday

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has now shared whether West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca should actually have been sent off against Manchester United yesterday.

The Hammers fell to a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford as Marcus Rahsford’s first-half header proved to be the difference between the sides.

David Moyes’ men will feel hard done by after they dominated the game during the second-half. David De Gea was in fine form to deny Kurt Zouma, Declan Rice and Michail Antonio from levelling the game up. 

West Ham looked a real threat after Antonio replaced Scamacca just before the hour mark. The Italian striker was hooked by Moyes after seemingly coming close to picking up a second yellow card.

Now, Gallagher says that he doesn’t believe it was a red card, despite admitting the Hammers man ‘got away with it’.

Gallagher on Scamacca

Scamacca had already picked up a booking before he challenged Lisandro Martinez for the ball in the second-half.

The 23-year-old led with a high boot but had his eyes fixed on the ball and referee William Cavanagh didn’t feel it merited a second yellow card.

But Gallagher says Scamacca avoided being sent off due to the challenge not being a red card in itself.

“I think he got away with it because it’s an on-field decision, the referee’s choice,” Gallagaher told Sky Sports News.

“The referee decides it’s a foul only, not a yellow card. You look at it, it’s not the worst foul in the world.

“VAR can’t intervene, it’s a red card or nothing. What you have to say, it’s not a red card because he’s definitely going for the ball. So therefore, they can’t intervene.

“It defaults back to the referee, he felt [it was a] high boot but didn’t endanger the safety of an opponent, wasn’t reckless, foul only.

“He retains all options, so he could go to the screen being told it’s a red card and say well no it’s not, it’s a yellow so he gives him a second yellow.

“But the VAR will be hard-pressed to say ‘I think you made a clear and obvious error that’s a red card’ when the referee says it’s just a foul. The gap is too wide.

“I think it’s a foul and I can understand that if you’re going to send somebody off, a second yellow card has got to be one where people go ‘yeah, it’s worth a red card’.”

Scamacca cut a frustrated figure leading the line for West Ham last night. Moyes has favoured the Italian over Antonio in recent weeks but may now have something to think about.

Antonio provided a real threat against United last night and the Hammers certainly benefited from having him on the pitch.

Moyes may look to play the pair alongside each other in an attempt to help his side find the back of the net more frequently.

The Hammers have only managed to score 11 times in their opening 13 games in the Premier League this season.