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Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is unlikely to face additional disciplinary action following his shove of a referee during his team's loss to Southampton on Saturday, according to a new report.
In the closing minutes of the match, Martinelli shoved official Sam Barrott aside in an attempt to take a quick free kick as Arsenal chased a goal to avoid FA Cup elimination, earning a yellow card for his reckless behavior.
The Athletic reports that since Barrott already dealt with Martinelli during the match, the Football Association is unlikely to review the incident or impose any further sanctions.
The episode has drawn comparisons to a previous controversy involving Martinelli, who was booked in January for attempting to nudge an injured Conor Bradley off the field while he lay on the ground. The Liverpool right back was later diagnosed with a season-ending knee injury, and Martinelli quickly issued an apology. As he had already been cautioned on the pitch, no additional action was pursued.
FA's Disciplinary History May Leave Martinelli Sweating
Although Martinelli may be optimistic about avoiding punishment for his shove of Barrott, a precedent from this same stage of the FA Cup back in 2023 could give him reason to worry.
Former Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrović received a red card for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh during an angry protest, yet the matter was still subject to a full investigation, resulting in an eight-match ban.
Such a lengthy suspension is considered highly unlikely for Martinelli, given that Mitrović's punishment accounted for both the red card and abusive language directed at an official, though violent conduct toward a referee played a significant role in determining the ban's duration.
Martinelli's contact with Barrott was far less confrontational than Mitrović's—the Brazilian was merely trying to move the referee out of his path rather than aggressively challenging the official—but the act of a player laying hands on a referee is seldom treated lightly under any circumstances.
Barrott clearly saw a difference in the severity of the incident, opting for a yellow card rather than following Kavanagh's lead with a red, and that distinction is likely to influence any retrospective assessment by the FA.
Should Martinelli receive a ban, it would extend beyond the FA Cup and encompass Premier League matches as well, leaving Arsenal exposed in their bid for the league title.