Gabriel Martinelli Referee Push: FA Sanction Verdict and Reaction

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli will not face additional sanctions from the Football Association after pushing referee Sam Barrott during the club’s FA Cup exit against Southampton.

The Brazilian winger was cautioned during the match on April 4, 2026, for his actions as Arsenal attempted to find a late equalizer at St Mary’s. The FA has since confirmed that no further disciplinary action will be taken because the official had already issued a yellow card for the incident on the field.

Reporting from The Athletic indicates that because the incident was punished during the game, it is unlikely to be reviewed retrospectively by the governing body.

Incident and Match Context

The flashpoint occurred in the final moments of the match as Arsenal chased a goal to prevent their elimination from the competition. Martinelli pushed referee Sam Barrott to the side in an attempt to take a free-kick quickly.

The incident took place during a game that saw Arsenal fall to a 2-1 defeat. Southampton opened the scoring through Ross Stewart, before substitute Viktor Gyokeres equalized for the Gunners midway through the second half. Shea Charles eventually secured the win for the hosts with a goal in the 85th minute, ending Arsenal’s hopes of a treble.

Refereeing Controversy

Despite the FA’s decision, the incident drew significant criticism from former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, who argued that Martinelli should have been sent off.

Gabriel Martinelli showed total disrespect for the match official Sam Barrott in that situation. Although Sam issued a yellow card, for me it’s a red card. You just cannot put your hands on a referee, let alone push him out of the way.

Mark Halsey

Halsey emphasized that the standard of respect for officials must be maintained across all levels of the game, citing the example of local park referees who face similar challenges.

Disciplinary Precedents

This is not the first time Martinelli has avoided retrospective FA action following a caution on the pitch. In January 2026, the winger was booked for attempting to push Liverpool right back Conor Bradley off the pitch while Bradley was prone and injured. Martinelli apologized for that incident and because he had been cautioned during the match, no further action was taken.

The current situation has been compared to a 2023 FA Cup incident involving former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović. Mitrović received a red card for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during a protest, which led to a subsequent investigation and an eight-game ban.

However, analysts note that a similar ban is highly unlikely for Martinelli. The Mitrović sanction was influenced by both the red card and the use of abusive language toward the official, whereas Martinelli received only a yellow card for the physical contact with Barrott.