Pundit issues ‘malicious’ Tottenham claim after analysing controversial footage ‘again and again’
Noel Whelan has suggested Antonio Conte is right to be “frustrated” with VAR after Tottenham defender Emerson Royal’s derby day sending-off.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted there was no “malice” or “power” behind the 23-year-old’s challenge on Gunners star Gabriel Martinelli.
As shown in footage on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel (1 October), Royal was shown a straight red card for his studs-up tackle on Martinelli with Tottenham trailing 2-1 just past the 60-minute mark.
Tottenham went on to lose the game 3-1, meaning Arsenal have stretched the lead to four points over their third-placed London rivals.
Speaking post-match and quoted by Sky Sports, Conte suggested referees in England must “work a lot” to improve VAR – believing that the challenge was instead worthy of a yellow card.
Royal will now miss Tottenham’s next three Premier League games through suspension.
Whelan insisted the tackle was not “deserving of a red” despite the Brazillian’s use of studs.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I’ve looked at it again and again, and in slow motion.
“There’s no actual tackle there. There’s no power behind the challenge.
“It’s a dangle of a leg and a clumsy one at that. I don’t think it was deserving of a red.
“There’ll be other people saying it’s dangerous contact because he’s used the studs, and I get that. But I’ve seen worse let go.
“It was a clumsy, late challenge but it was not malicious – so I can understand Conte’s frustration.
“Yes, it was above the boot line – but it’s more like a graze than an actual challenge.”
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