Arsenal to 'contact' Pro Ref over Sunderland penalty incident: What happens next?

By Ben Knapton | 14 Sep 2026 13:23, Last updated: 14 Sep 2026 13:23

Arsenal volition reportedly interaction the Premier League's governing assemblage for referees - Pro Ref - implicit the arguable awarding of a punishment to Sunderland successful Saturday's top-flight victory.

The Gunners maintained their 100% grounds for the 2026-27 play with a 2-0 triumph astatine the Stadium of Light, courtesy of second-half goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka aft David Raya kept retired Enzo Le Fee's penalty.

However, Mikel Arteta was successful nary celebratory temper astatine afloat time, arsenic the Arsenal manager slammed the "unacceptable" decision to grant the Black Cats the spot footwear successful the archetypal place.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot aft Ezri Konsa was deemed to person brought down Daniel Ballard astatine a corner, and the VAR country - comprising Stuart Attwell and Edward Smart - backed up their colleague's decision.

Brooks claimed astatine the clip that Konsa was "all implicit Ballard facing the incorrect way", though replays showed that the Arsenal defender's eyes were fixed connected the ball, portion Ballard appeared to resistance the Englishman down successful what Arteta described arsenic a "judo roll".

Arsenal 'to contact' Pro Ref implicit Sunderland punishment incident

Now, The Athletic claims that Arsenal volition get successful interaction with Pro Ref to inquire astir the incident, astatine a clip erstwhile the officials' assemblage is already nether large scrutiny pursuing the Enzo Fernandez farce successful the Manchester derby.

Pro Ref admitted an "error of judgement" aft Erling Haaland's victor for Manchester City against Manchester United was wrongfully given, arsenic Fernandez was successful an offside presumption erstwhile Josko Gvardiol's transverse came in.

Haaland besides appeared to person gone beyond the past defender, though replays showed that Patrick Dorgu's ft was keeping the Norwegian onside earlier helium swept location astatine the backmost post.

Haaland's extremity was initially ruled retired for offside by the linesman, but the VAR country - who did not urge an on-field reappraisal to Michael Oliver - ascertained that the offside Fernandez did not interfere with play, contempt the midfielder lunging guardant and attempting to caput the ball.

Man United person present received an apology from Pro Ref, who said successful their connection that the VAR officials connected work "did not recognise the apt interaction of his (Fernandez’s) presumption and should person recommended an on-field review."

Arsenal to interaction Pro Ref: What happens now?

Arsenal contacting Pro Ref suggests that the Gunners are seeking a ceremonial mentation for Brooks's determination - astatine the precise slightest - and successful an perfect world, an admittance of an mistake and an apology.

The punishment incidental should besides beryllium referred to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel, a five-strong radical made up of erstwhile players/coaches, arsenic good arsenic representatives from Pro Ref and the Premier League.

Should the sheet determine that Brooks wrongly awarded the penalty, Arsenal volition person an apology from Pro Ref, and the KMI panel's verdict volition beryllium made nationalist careless of the result of the investigation.

The verdict volition not alteration the result, but determination is simply a accidental the Brooks and/or Attwell could beryllium dropped oregon moved to antithetic roles for the adjacent circular of fixtures if they were recovered to person committed a superior mistake.