Tottenham expert issues 'red card' claim after Sky Sports footage analysed

Tottenham expert issues 'red card' claim after Sky Sports footage analysed

Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson is a former England goalkeeper who played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United Blackburn Rovers and Burnley. Paul is a former England international, earning 41 caps between 2003 and 2007. He joined Football Insider in 2020 and is a regular at Premier League matches and also often hops on a plane to cover the Saudi Pro League as well as Serie A.

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Paul Robinson has insisted complete consistency in the VAR system will "never happen" despite Tottenham boss Antonio Conte airing his "frustration".

The former Spurs and England goalkeeper, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested referees are not "robots" and will always interpret incidents differently.

Conte was left frustrated by Anthony Taylor's decision to dismiss Emerson Royal after his challenge on Gabriel Martinelli during Tottenham's 3-1 loss against Arsenal last weekend (1 October).

The Brazil international's tackle was similar to one committed by Virgil van Dijk in last month's Merseyside derby - a challenge which saw him booked.

Speaking post-match and quoted by Sky Sports, Conte suggested referees in England must “work a lot” to improve VAR – insisting every decision must be "top".

He insisted the red card "killed the game".

Royal is now banned for three games following his sending-off and will miss matches against Brighton, Everton, and Man United.

Robinson told Football Insider: “I completely understand what Conte is saying.

“It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day you are dealing with human beings – not robots. These referees have opinions.

“There is a law to abide by, but different referees can interpret those laws differently. One may think a challenge is a red card, another may not. One may give a handball, another may not.

“As much as we want consistency right across the board, we’re unfortunately not dealing with robots.

“You’re never ever going to get that complete consistency. It will never happen.”

Tottenham

Tottenham remain third in the Premier League, four points behind rivals and league leaders Arsenal.

Their loss against the Gunners was the first of their top-flight campaign.

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