Ex-Fifa referee blasts ‘total and utter garbage’ official explanation for Tottenham v Liverpool controversy
Keith Hackett has insisted both Harry Kane and Andy Robertson deserved to be sent off in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday (19 December).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee delivered his verdict after an explanation to why Kane was only shown a yellow card while Robertson was given his marching orders was offered.
David Ornstein of the Athletic reported yesterday (20 December) VAR did not tell referee Paul Tierney to review the England captain’s challenge because Robertson was jumping at the time.
When Robertson kicked out at Emerson Royal later on in the game VAR operator Chris Kavanagh told Tierney to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
After looking at it again, Robertson’s initial yellow card was upgraded to a sending off.
Asked for his verdict on the explanation offered, Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Total and utter garbage.
“You can commit a challenge with excessive force that endangers the safety of the opponent even without contact on the opponent.
“Whoever has given that explanation has failed to understand the law and needs to go back to the IFAB and buy themselves a laws of the game book before they makes those comments.
“It’s abject nonsense and it doesn’t help. They are trying to justify in what is in effect an error that should not be made.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said after the game he had no problem with Robertson’s red card but Kane also deserved to be sent off.
He was also unhappy a foul on Diogo Jota in the Spurs penalty area went unpunished.
In other news, an “out of control” Liverpool star is set for an extended ban as controversial Tottenham footage emerges.