Ex-Fifa referee: Zaha should get extended ban as controversial Tottenham v Crystal Palace footage analysed
Wilfried Zaha gave John Moss no choice but to send him off during Crystal Palace’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Moss may have been able to handle the incident differently to stop it from escalating.
Zaha was shown a first yellow card for a late challenge on Emerson Royal in the 26th minute.
Just over 10 minutes later the 29-year-old was shown a second yellow for a shove on the same player.
He will now miss Crystal Palace’s game with Norwich City on Tuesday (28 December) but Hackett says he could have got a straight red and an extended ban.
“There are no doubts in my mind that Zaha was fouled near the halfway line and I was rather surprised the foul wasn’t given,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He turns and out of frustration brings the Spurs player down. It leaves Moss no option but to issue a yellow card.
“On the second one, he could well have got a straight red. His actions were aggressive, he’s grabbed hold of the guy, spun him and threw him to the ground. It’s very clear.
“When reviewing these things you think if John Moss had been closer to the action a shout from him or a quick blast on the whistle may well have prevented that act but he’s got to give what he sees.
“Zaha, as a senior player with a great deal of experience, got to actively have some more self-control. Palace will be disappointed that a player of his calibre will be lost through suspensions because of two yellow cards.
“If you are in close proximity of play as a referee you can be preventative. Presence prevents. Moss should have been closer.
“Verbal interactions like ‘Leave it’, ‘Let it go’, ‘I’m on it’ is preventative and proactive refereeing.
“The law supports exactly what he’s done he’s got no choice.”
In other news, a Tottenham insisder has revealed multiple sources have told him the club are ‘confident’ of agreeing a new Harry Kane deal.