Ex-Premier League referee: This may be real reason Cristian Romero escaped Tottenham red card as ‘violent’ footage analysed
Cristian Romero may have escaped a red card as Tottenham drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Sunday (14 August) because referee Anthony Taylor had a good initial view of the incident.
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider as he admitted he was “surprised” VAR official Mike Dean did not intervene.
Romero went unpunished when he appeared to pull Marc Cucurella’s hair as they both challenged for a corner in the stoppage time at the end of the second half.
The ball went out for another corner that Harry Kane scored from rescuing a point for Tottenham.
“The one they got wrong was Romero‘s hair pull on Cucurella,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I have to say, that’s a red card. It’s violent conduct.
“Mike Dean was the VAR and we don’t know the exchange of views but we do know Mike is not slow to advise dismissing players so I’m surprised.
“It also looked as if Anthony Taylor got a good view of this. That might have influenced the VAR.
“Nonetheless, for me, this was a red card offence and they got it wrong. It was an act of violent conduct, you can’t do that.
“He’s very fortunate to stay on, this is a wrong call by the referee.
“This is the reason for VAR coming in. I do think Mike Dean should have said ‘Anthony, I think you might have missed something, go and have a look at it’.
“When you are educating referees and talking about the laws of the game, this is an act of violence and it’s deemed under that banner.
“There are interpretations and instructions that go out but this is a red card offence.”
In other news, Tottenham are closing on three marquee signings as a medical is booked.