Ex-Fifa official issues emphatic Richarlison claim as controversial Tottenham footage emerges
Keith Hackett has insisted there was nothing wrong in law with Richarlison’s showboating as Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Sunday (28 August).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Richarlison had to accept the opposition’s angry reaction if he was going to showboat.
The 25-year-old juggled the ball inside the Forest half as his side defended their lead at the City Ground.
He was hacked down by Brennan Johnson who was shown a yellow card for his troubles and Tottenham were awarded a free-kick.
As quoted by the Guardian after the game, Steve Cooper insisted he would not have accepted similar actions from his own players.
“Fans loved it,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“If you’re taking the proverbial out of the opposition by doing that, then it’s going to stimulate a potential problem in the game.
“There is nothing to stop him in the laws of the game, that’s the thing.
“A quiet word would have sufficed. In fairness, he got a free-kick, he was fouled so that evened it out a little bit.
“If you’re going to do that, you’ve got to take what might be coming to you.”
Richarlison was making his third appearance as a sub for Spurs against Forest and recorded his first assist.
The Brazil international moved to the north London club from Everton this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £60million.
In other news, an expert has revealed Tottenham will make two last-gasp signings after a Sky update.