Pundit can’t believe ‘completely wrong’ Cristian Romero controversy as new Tottenham details emerge
Noel Whelan has insisted Tottenham defender Cristian Romero’s alleged hair-pull was “aggressive behaviour and a blatant foul”.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed match referee Anthony Taylor and VAR official Mike Dean “missed a trick” by not giving Chelsea a free kick.
Tottenham recorded a last-gasp 2-2 draw against the Blues on Sunday (14 August), with Harry Kane scoring an injury-time header just moments after Romero appeared to pull the hair of Marc Cucurella inside the box.
As per Sky Sports (15 August), the centre-back will not face any retrospective punishment for the incident – as the incident was seen in real-time by officials and a decision was made by VAR official Mike Dean.
Hair-pulling is also not mentioned in the laws of the game as a potential offence.
However, former Leicester defender Robert Huth was banned for three games in 2016 after pulling the hair of Marouane Fellaini.
Whelan insisted Romero “crossed the line” and should have been punished.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think it’s something where the referee has missed a trick – it’s right in front of him,”
“If he gives a foul then Chelsea win the game, the goal never comes from the second corner.
“I can see where Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea feel aggrieved, and I think I’d feel the same. It’s aggressive behaviour and a blatant foul.
“It’s probably the only decision Taylor got wrong on Sunday. I like to see a free-flowing game, but dragging someone to the ground by his hair just crosses the line.
“If it happens anywhere else on the pitch, it gets seen and it’s a free-kick.
“He’s got it completely wrong.”
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