Tottenham Hotspur’s recent run of good form ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Manchester City at home.
Despite a more aggressive attacking approach in the second half, Erling Haaland’s early goal proved decisive, as Spurs were unable to convert their opportunities.
This result saw Tottenham drop to 13th place in the Premier League, exacerbating their struggles in the lower half of the table.
A significant moment arose after the final whistle, where captain Heung-min Son was involved in a heated exchange with referee Jarred Gillett. This incident may be reviewed by the FA, as Son was fortunate to avoid immediate disciplinary action following the confrontation.
The heated exchange followed a dramatic moment in stoppage time when Haaland believed he had scored again for City, only for VAR to disallow the goal for handball after a lengthy review. Once the referee blew the final whistle, several Spurs players, including Son, confronted Gillett in protest.
It remains uncertain what the Tottenham players were complaining about, considering the disallowed goal ultimately favored Spurs. They might have anticipated more added time due to the lengthy VAR review.
Ex-PGMOL chief comments on Tottenham star’s potential FA report
Hackett defended Gillett’s management of stoppage time, highlighting that referees have full authority over timekeeping. He questioned the intensity of Son’s protests, especially given that the disallowed goal did not harm Tottenham.
He suggested that Gillett could include the incident in his match report, potentially leading to further scrutiny from the FA.
Speaking to Tottenham News, Hackett stated:
“Jarred Gillet has delivered two very good performances in recent days. His movement and contact with play were excellent, and his decision-making was confident.”
“His judgement regarding that handball and the disallowed goal was the only point I would comment on. He ruled out a Man City goal due to a handball.”
“The Spurs players should reflect on their actions, and I hope the referee includes Son’s behavior in his report, as he was fortunate to escape a sanction for his clear and sustained protest.”
“Did Son not notice that a Man City goal was ruled out by Gillett?”
“If he was protesting about the amount of time added on, he should refer to Law 5, which states that the referee is the sole timekeeper.”
“I believe Son was grasping at straws here.”
“I would have preferred Gillett to show him a yellow card to reinforce his authority.”
Spurs regret missed opportunities
While Tottenham might feel aggrieved over the final moments, their failure to capitalize on key opportunities ultimately dictated the match’s outcome.
Pape Matar Sarr had a golden chance to equalize in stoppage time but headed over the bar from point-blank range. Similarly, the returning Wilson Odobert squandered a chance to score ten minutes into the second half.
Whether the referee reports Son to the FA remains to be seen, but if he is reported, he may face disciplinary action from the governing authority.
The post Tottenham star’s heated referee confrontation after Man City defeat could lead to FA trouble appeared first on CaughtOffside.
