Xavi Simons sending off 'out of the question' after Tottenham celebrations vs Brighton - Keith Hackett
Xavi Simons was never going to be sent off against Brighton despite two cautionable offences from the Tottenham Hotspur star.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Stuart Attwell only booked the goalscorer for one of his two celebrations on Saturday, 18 April.
Spurs' No.7 curled home what he thought was a much-needed winner in North London, sparking jubililation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking his shirt off and jumping into the crowd.
Sadly for Roberto De Zerbi's squad, they were crushed in the fourth minute of added time when Georginio Rutter fired home to secure Brighton a 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
Xavi Simons' celebrations caused chaos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “The law doesn’t give you two yellows in that situation. You pick the defining one, and therefore, a sending off is out of the question.
“Where a player removes his shirt, under the laws of the game, it seems harsh, but the reality is that in certain parts of the world, it’s unacceptable.
“More seriously, when players go towards the crowd, there is a risk of a surge. That surge can put younger spectators at risk.
| Xavi Simons vs Brighton | Stats [FotMob] |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 51 |
| Passing accuracy | 85% (23/27) |
| Chances created | 2 |
| Big chances missed | 2 |
| Ground duels won | 55% (6/11) |
| Fouls won | 4 |
| Fouls committed | 2 |
"It’s not a double yellow. That wouldn’t be in the law, but would definitely be a caution for the removal of his shirt.”
Tottenham star shows lack of awareness after Brighton heartbreak
The Lilywhites remain 18th in the Premier League table, one point from safety, with West Ham yet to play their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Monday, 20 April.
Just hours after the heartbreak against the Seagulls, though, Simons took to social media with an image of his celebrations, causing supporters to lash out at him.
Simons could now get Tottenham relegated, with his injury problems the reason for so many minutes being added on at the end, and his teammates having to play with 10 men because of his cramp.
The upcoming game against Wolves on Saturday, 25 April, will truly showcase the squad's resilience and whether they have what it takes to escape the relegation zone this season.