‘I can’t believe it, you’ve got it wrong’ – Ex-PGMOL boss furious with VAR as Tottenham-Brentford controversy re-analysed
VAR official Tim Wood was at fault as Rob Jones missed a blatant sending-off during the clash between Tottenham and Brentford.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Thomas Frank’s reunion with Brentford should have ended with Spurs having 10 men.
Xavi Simons scored his first Tottenham goal, doubling the lead after Richarlison fired home the Dutchman’s early cross, seeing out a 2-0 win in North London on Saturday, 6 December.
The Bees had very few chances to get back into the game, but in the 31st minute, Keith Andrews‘ players would have felt hard done by following a challenge from Spurs captain Cristian Romero.
Cristian Romero only cautioned for his challenge on Igor Thiago
There was plenty of debate as the Argentine launched into a reckless challenge on Brentford‘s Igor Thiago from behind, ending the tackle in a scissor-like fashion, causing a mass confrontation of players.
Romero had only just returned from suspension for Tottenham’s draw against Newcastle United, and including that game, the defender has now picked up another two yellow cards.
Despite a VAR check, the centre-half was allowed to stay on the pitch until the 81st minute, when he was replaced, and Frank clearly felt that he was walking a tightrope against the Bees.
With the referee acting with a yellow card, Hackett was not so critical of Jones, rather voicing his frustrations at the VAR after Romero was allowed to get away with such a dangerous tackle.
VAR ‘sleeping’ as Keith Hackett reacts to Tottenham star’s challenge
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “When I first saw it, I thought yellow [card]. Then, on second view, you could see that excessive force.
“There’s no question that he’s come in at pace, he’s off the ground, he’s taken the man, and he’s finished in the scissor-tackle.
“I cannot believe that the referee didn’t detect that as an offence to begin with, and then VAR comes in, the referee gives a yellow, and they haven’t said, ‘You’ve got that one wrong, it’s a red’
“They must have been sleeping. This is a definite red; I’m not sitting on the fence. It puts the player’s safety at risk. There’s no question about that.”