Tottenham news: Ex-PL referee demands retrospective ban as ‘cheating’ Matt Doherty ‘exposed’
Keith Hackett has called on the FA to introduce “retrospective punishment” for diving after Tottenham star Matt Doherty was “exposed” during the 2-2 draw with Brentford on Monday (26 December).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Bees star Bryan Mbuemo also made himself look “really silly” with his attempt to con match official David Coote.
As seen on BBC’s Match of the Day (31:40, 26 December), Doherty went down theatrically inside the penalty area after a tackle from Brentford’s Mathias Jørgensen.
Moments later, Mbuemo hit the floor despite replays appearing to show no contact between the Cameroon international and Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
The game ended 2-2 despite Brentford taking a two-goal lead with strikes from Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney.
Harry Kane, who saw a separate penalty appeal waved away in the second half, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hit back in a six-minute period to earn Spurs a point.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It’s cheating, isn’t it?
“Mbuemo, in the same game, he made himself look really silly and was yellow-carded.
“The television replays exposed both players.
“The yellow card is a sanction, but it’s a difficult area for the referee. Especially in the Championship and EFL, where there is no VAR.
“These players are becoming really good at manufacturing contact, holding out their legs to get that touch from the defender.
“I think, despite the reluctance, the FA should bring in retrospective punishment. It acts as a deterrent for this type of behaviour.
“Doherty and Mbuemo – I think their managers should be having a word with them.”
In other news, expert lambasts Tottenham after “unthinkable” development – “I still can’t believe it”.