The Premier League clarified Kai Havertz’s reckless challenge as fans called for him to be shown a red card following his tackle during Arsenal vs Burnley.
Arsenal entertained Burnley in their final home game of the 2025/26 season on Monday.
The Gunners opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Havertz rose the highest to head home from Bukaya Saka’s sweeping corner.
His goal wasn’t his only flashpoint, as he was involved in a controversial moment in the second half.
Premier League Issues Statement on Kai Havertz’s Tackle
VAR was called into action after Havertz caught the back of Lesley Ugochukwu’s leg with a studs-up challenge.
Paul Tierney brandished a yellow card, but VAR checked the challenge for serious foul play. However, the on-field decision of a yellow card was upheld.
Shortly after the incident, the Premier League Match Centre account on X shared a statement.
They wrote: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Havertz was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge deemed not to be serious foul play.”
Gary Neville: ‘Kai Havertz is a Lucky Boy’
Gary Neville was on commentary duty for Arsenal vs Burnley and called Havertz a “lucky boy” for avoiding a red card.
He urged Mikel Arteta to substitute him straight away and said he “needs to leave the pitch.”
On Sky Sports, Neville said: “I don’t think that’s right. I think he’s a lucky boy, I would get him off the pitch straight away. That’s not right, he needs to leave the pitch.”
Ugly scenes marred the closing moments of the World Cup final, as tempers boiled over between Argentina and Spain players on the pitch once the full-time whistle blew.
Players and coaches from both camps got involved in an attempt to defuse everything, with a host of separate incidents taking place over the course of three minutes.
“With a heavy heart for not having been able to bring home the cup that we all deserved, but with pride bursting at the seams for this jersey, for my teammates, the coaching staff, the executives, the medical team, the cooks, the kit men, and every single person who was involved to make all of this work in the best possible way.”
He continued: “I want to congratulate Spain on their well-deserved title. We defended our colours far beyond the pitch and shared unforgettable moments with the National Team, alongside our families and with the unwavering support of all Argentinians.
“Remember that ‘the fall of the great is the joy of the mediocre’.”
“Thank you all so much. Let’s take care of our country. I love you, Argentina!”
REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
The freshly surfaced clip appears to show Martinez himself getting physically involved, with footage suggesting the Manchester United defender ‘punched’ Spain midfielder Gavi in the face.
The moment came after Leandro Paredes threw the 20-year-old Barcelona man to the ground, which had already caused enough chaos in itself.
See the incident between Lisandro Martinez and Gavi below:
With the video gaining traction online, scrutiny on Argentina’s conduct after the final looks set to intensify further, adding yet another unwanted moment to an already chaotic post-match scene.
Police in England and Wales are pushing for extra funding to help manage matchday disorder, and the case for it just got stronger.
According to the Home Office, arrestable incidents were logged at 1,644 fixtures in England and Wales during the 2025-26 season, the highest total recorded since the UK Football Policing Unit began tracking the figures in 2017-18.
Some of the country’s biggest Premier League clubs feature prominently on the list, and the gap between several of them is narrow, painting a picture of an issue that isn’t confined to any one corner of the game. Here’s how every club in the top ten compares.
10. Tottenham Hotspur – 52 arrests
Spurs round out the bottom of the list with 52 football-related arrests across the 2025/26 season. Not the number any club wants to have attached to their name, but being the best of a bad bunch in this situation isn’t something to shout about.
9. Liverpool – 52 arrests
Liverpool are tied with Tottenham on 52 arrests, but edge higher due to the larger number of banning orders among their fans. For a club with one of the largest travelling fanbases in the country, it’s a figure that will raise concerns despite sitting at the lower end of this list.
8. Portsmouth – 55 arrests
Action Images/Paul Childs
Portsmouth’s inclusion stands out as they are one of only two clubs outside the Premier League’s usual big-city clubs to feature prominently, with 55 arrests recorded over the season.
7. Leeds United – 59 arrests
Leeds United’s return to the top-flight has come with 59 football-related arrests, a reminder of the intensity that runs through the club’s fans regardless of division.
6. Everton – 62 arrests
Jason Cairnduff via Reuters
Everton sit on 10 more arrests than Liverpool with 62, meaning the two Merseyside clubs combine for 114 arrests when their respective stadiums sit less than two miles apart.
5. Millwall – 63 arrests
Millwall’s reputation precedes them at times, and 63 arrests this season keep that narrative alive, placing them fifth on the list. With bitter rivals West Ham now playing Championship football next season, this number could easily inflate for Millwall by this time next year, as well as see West Ham enter the list, who currently hold the most banning orders of any club in England and Wales (121).
4. Arsenal – 66 arrests
Titleholders Arsenal racked up 66 arrests, reflecting the scale of their fanbase and the number of high-profile fixtures they’ve been involved in across the last season, both in the Premier League and Champions League.
3. Manchester United – 67 arrests
Manchester United sit third with 67 arrests, a figure that comes as little surprise given the size and reach of their support both home and away, with almost 18% of their fanbase coming from London.
2. Chelsea – 76 arrests
Chelsea take second spot, and with it the most in London with 76 arrests, some way clear of Man Utd, but still miles behind the club at the very top of this list.
1. Manchester City – 102 arrests
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Manchester City top the table by some distance, with 102 football-related arrests recorded across the 2025-26 season, well over a third more than second-placed Chelsea. To make matters worse for City, the club also sit behind West Ham in second overall for the most banning orders racked up, with 86.
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