Dermot Gallagher discusses controversial decisions in the Premier League on behalf of Sky Sports after every round.
The former top referee has now made his appeal over these incidents in the Sunderland vs Newcastle match.
Dermot Gallagher looks at what happened during key moments in this match on Wearside.
Newcastle United and Sunderland in a match not without incidents…
This Premier League match ends with Sunderland 1, Newcastle 0 and United now having to refocus on Wednesday evening and get the chance to reach a third cup semi-final in four seasons.
Dermot Gallagher in conversation Air sports about these controversial incidents between Sunderland and Newcastle:
INCIDENT:
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey avoids a second yellow card after stamping on the top of Lewis Miley’s foot.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“Is it a second yellow card? Possibly.”
“The VAR cannot interfere with it.
“But from the referee’s perspective it doesn’t look like he’s touching it.
“It actually looks like his boot lands next to him, so you can understand why he didn’t even give a free kick.”
INCIDENT:
Nordi Mukiele only receives a yellow card for a cowardly challenge on Dan Burn, where the Newcastle defender slides to clear the ball and the Sunderland player never makes contact with the ball, but his knee(s) come into contact with Burn’s chest/ribs.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“I think the difference is that one player got the ball and the other didn’t.
“Half a second the other way around it could have been Burn who caught Mukiele.
“Both players fought for the ball.
“It is inevitable that they will collide.”
INCIDENT:
A late battle breaks out in the derby, involving players from both sides. The referee booked four players, one Sunderland and three Newcastle United.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“I actually think that summed up how he (Peter Bankes) whistled.
“If you look at him, he’s calm, he’s looking.
“This all started because of a challenge on the goalkeeper.
“He didn’t lose focus on that and when it all calmed down, he went back and booked the right players.
‘He didn’t let himself be tempted into doing stupid things.
“I thought this was a great match to watch because he let them play and the players didn’t take advantage of it.”
Hmmm, I think the referee bottled it when he didn’t give Brobbey a second yellow. I think he knew that if he had acknowledged seeing the foul on Miley and given the free kick, he would have had no choice but to give the second yellow and then red.
I still think Mukiele did that on purpose with Burn. He knew before he slid that he couldn’t get the ball, but did it anyway, reckless about how that might hurt Dan Burn. However, I accept that a yellow card was probably all the referee could give as he had to deliberately give the Sunderland player the benefit of the doubt.
As for the fight at the end. I don’t think it was a foul by Willock on the keeper, let alone a yellow card. Furthermore, I don’t think Peter Bankes made the decision on who to book in that incident. I think he had a voice in his ear telling him who to punish, rightly or wrongly.
Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 14 December 2025 2pm
Match statistics
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Sunderland:
Woltemade OG 46
Possess was Newcastle 54% Sunderland 46%
Total shots were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 5
Shots on target were Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1
Corners were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 3
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 14 Sunderland 14
Newcastle team vs Sunderland:
Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn (Schar 42), Hall, Tonali (Willock 59), Miley, Bruno, Gordon (Barnes 59), Woltemade (Wissa 75), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 59)
Unused subs:
Ruddy, Joelinton, Alex Murphy, Ramsey
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