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  "path": "/2026/04/04/arsenal-star-shoves-referee-disgraceful-reaction-fa-cup-defeat-southampton-27856225/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-04T21:27:41.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "FA Cup",
    "Gabriel Martinelli",
    "Southampton FC",
    "Max Dowman",
    "Noni Madueke",
    "Riccardo Calafiori",
    "Sign up here",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Martinelli was booked late on during the incident (Picture: Getty)\n\nArsenal star Gabriel Martinelli escaped a red card despite shoving the referee in his side’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton.\n\nThe Gunners crashed out of the competition on Saturday night after a 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s, undone by Shea Charles’ brilliant finish five minutes from full-time.\n\nArsenal pushed for an equaliser late on with 16-year-old Max Dowman his side’s best outlet all night.\n\nIn injury time, the teenager drove forward again before being brought down just inside the Southampton half.\n\nReferee Sam Barrott immediately blew for a free kick but was shoved out of the way by Martinelli who was eager for it to be taken as quickly as possible.\n\nUnsurprinsigly, Barrott pulled the Gunners forward back showing him a yellow card and giving him a ticking off for his trouble.\n\nArsenal had opportunities to force extra time late on with Noni Madueke firing over and Riccardo Calafiori heading clear of the bar.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy analysis and breakdowns of the biggest football stories directly to your inbox.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nMartinelli’s conduct was blasted by frustrated supporters online with one writing: ‘Martinelli, if you want to show your hunger and readiness, do it with the ball not by pushing the referee or looking lost on the pitch.’\n\nAnother added: ‘Gabriel Martinelli pushing referee away is disgraceful,’ while another wrote: ‘Martinelli pushes the referee out of the way but is only given a yellow card. Surely, that’s a red?’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Arsenal star shoves referee in ‘disgraceful’ reaction during FA Cup defeat to Southampton"
}