Exclusive: Bissouma ‘push’ verdict issued as Tottenham stun Bodo/Glimt
Keith Hackett has given his verdict on the decision to allow Brennan Johnson’s goal to stand for Tottenham during their Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was not enough in a push by Yves Bissouma on Ole Blomberg in the build up to disallow the goal.
There is an expectation that Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will leave the club this season even if they win the Europa League this season.
Even so they will still be desperate to lift that silverware to salvage an otherwise dismal season while also ending that wait for a trophy and securing Champions League qualification.
As Tottenham hosted the Norwegian side on Thursday night (1 May), they would make the perfect start to their attempts to do that.
Brennan Johnson strikes early in Europa League
With less than 40 seconds on the clock, the hosts would go in front as Brennan Johnson continued his excellent season for Tottenham.
After Bissouma had won possession on the right wing whilst sending his opponent to the turf on a 50-50 challenge, the midfielder sent an excellent ball into the Bodo/Glimt penalty area, which was then headed across goal by Richarlison.
Johnson was then on hand to head home past oppositon goalkeeper Nikita Haikin at the back post and put his side 1-0 up in almost no time at all.
However, there was a check by VAR to see if the goal should have been disallowed for a push by Bissouma on Blomberg as the Tottenham back reclaimed control of the ball.
Hackett though believes the decision to let the goal stand was indeed the right one, suggesting there was not enough in the contact for it to register as a foul.
‘Tottenham goal rightly allowed to stand’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider if VAR was correct not to disallow that opener for Tottenham, the former referee said:
“Happy that the goal was allowed to stand, no clear push for me. Football is a contact sport and the referee was correct to allow the goal.”
Things would get better for Tottenham when James Maddison also found the back of the net after 34 minutes to ensure Postecoglou’s side took a 2-0 lead into half time.