João Gomes saw red during Aston Villa's heavy loss at the Amex Stadium last month, and the manner in which the dismissal was handled has drawn scrutiny from a former head of English match officials. Football Insider reported on 24 August that Keith Hackett, previously in charge of PGMOL, felt referee Peter Bankes took an unnecessarily risky approach to the incident.
The 25-year-old midfielder struck Brighton forward Georginio Rutter shortly before half-time, having already been booked earlier in the contest. Rather than halting play immediately, Bankes allowed the hosts to play on under the advantage rule, prompting intervention from the video assistant referee to issue the correct punishment for violent conduct.
Hackett argued that the challenge warranted an instant dismissal without any need for technological assistance. He suggested that allowing play to continue when a player deserves to be sent off risks provoking angry responses from opponents and escalating tensions across the pitch.
Although the former FIFA referee acknowledged that VAR ultimately reached the right conclusion, he maintained that officials should never apply the advantage law when a red-card offence has occurred unless the ball is actively crossing the line. In his view, concentration levels must remain sharp regardless of the scoreline.
Villa were already in serious difficulty by that stage, with Brighton finding the net four times inside a 31-minute spell before the interval. Unai Emery's side struggled to gain any control once reduced to ten men, compounding a miserable afternoon on the south coast.
Because the dismissal was categorised as violent conduct, Gomes is expected to serve a three-match ban. That suspension would rule him out of upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Hull City, along with one additional game, leaving Emery short of options in midfield until the January 2027 transfer window opens.
