Pundit lambasts ‘infuriating’ VAR officials as Harry Kane controversy analysed at Tottenham
Noel Whelan has insisted Nottingham Forest defender Steve Cook should have been sent off for a “blatant, intentional handball” which prevented Tottenham star Harry Kane from scoring.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the consistency in officiating in the Premier League is “just not there”.
Cook was only shown a yellow card when he rose above Kane to block the cross with a hand with Tottenham leading Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground on Sunday (28 August).
Craig Pawson awarded Tottenham a penalty, but VAR did not refer him to the pitchside monitor in order to upgrade Cook’s punishment.
Kane missed the subsequent spot-kick but doubled the scoreline with a last-gasp goal to hand Spurs a 2-0 victory over Forest.
Antonio Conte’s side have picked up 10 points from their opening four games – and now sit just two adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Whelan insisted decisions like these are “really infuriating” for managers and football fans alike.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “It’s not changed the outcome of the game.
“But you’re more looking to the consistency of decisions from referees, it’s just not there.
“That’s the really infuriating thing for managers and football fans.
“Why is it not a red card for a blatant, intentional handball which takes a chance off a striker’s head?
“It has to be a red card. It doesn’t matter if it’s also a penalty.”
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