Tottenham news: Enock Mwepu should be banned as footage analysed – Ex-Fifa official
Enock Mwepu should have been sent off as Brighton & Hove Albion beat Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday (16 April), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Mwepu should have been shown two yellow cards for almost identical charges.
Already on a yellow, the 24-year-old raised his boot and caught Ben Davies’ head while they challenged for a 50-50 ball.
Craig Pawson did not feel the need to show a second yellow card which would have triggered a one-game ban.
He would have been unavailable for the trip to Man City on Wednesday (20 April).
“We must clarify that VAR can’t come in here because it’s a second yellow card,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“But the thing is the second offence is identical to the first one. He was right on the first one to give him a yellow card because his boot did land on top of his opponent’s foot and it’s reckless. The second one was also reckless.
“I just think Craig Pawson, I’ve said it before and will continue to say it, is too laid back. He’s got a job to do and he needs to sharpen up.
“He’s not committing the offences, he’s there to apply the law. If a player goes outside the law it doesn’t matter who they are, you send him off for two yellows.
“I don’t think he had a particularly good game, he coasts and that’s disappointing.
“He’s got potential but now he’s got the Fifa badge and it seems that’s it. He thinks he’s the best going and he’s not.
“It’s like business, in a referee’s career if you don’t progress you actually regress. I think he’s standing still and his boss needs to kick him up his rear.
“I would say you’re out for a couple of weeks and your season could be over.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Tottenham have been ‘blinded by the cheque’ as a sponsor goes bust.