Tottenham profit from major injustice as Kaoru Mitoma footage analysed – expert
Alan Hutton cannot understand why Brighton were not awarded a penalty against Tottenham on Saturday (8 April).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs defender was blown away by the mistakes in what is supposed to be “the highest level of refereeing”.
As shown on Sky Sports (9 April), Kaoru Mitoma appeared to be fouled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg inside the Spurs penalty area.
Referee Stuart Attwell allowed play to continue and VAR official Michael Salisbury agreed with the on-field decision not to award a spot-kick.
The Seagulls went on to lose the game 2-1 after having two goals disallowed.
In a statement following the match, the refereeing body PGMOL apologised to Brighton and acknowledged that the team should have been awarded a penalty for the foul on Mitoma.
Hutton couldn’t believe the error made by Attwell.
“I saw it and I thought it was a penalty,” he told Football Insider.
“Then when they slowed it down it was definitely a penalty.
“The worst thing for me is, the referee is looking right at it. You would like to think he has made his own mind up. Even if he was not 100 per cent sure, that is why VAR is there, to step in.
“To not give it and just play on as if nothing has happened is actually incredible, especially with all the technology that is there.
“This is the highest level of refereeing so to get a basic mistake like that, no wonder the association has come out and apologised.“
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