After VAR intervened, Curtis Jones was given a straight red card for a late tackle on Yves Bissouma, but Gary Neville disagreed with their decision.
Gary Neville disputed the decision to give Curtis Jones a straight red card during Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham, saying that a yellow would have been “fine.”
Jones, 22, received his initial warning after Yves Bissouma’s late tackle. Referee Simon Hooper was asked by VAR to reevaluate the challenge, though. Replays revealed that Jones grazed the top of the ball when he lunged in and instead caught Bissouma on the bottom of the shin.
Hooper decided to overturn his earlier judgement and dismiss Jones, leaving Liverpool with 10-men for more than an hour. Hooper then took a look at the pitch-side VAR monitor. However, former Manchester United defender Neville disagrees and said the decision will “ruin” the game.
Neville said, “No, I know when you’re doing someone on purpose, I’ve done myself in the past, and he’s not doing that,” in an interview with Sky Sports. In reality, his foot slips over the top of the ball as he [the VAR] is showing the referee the finish gesture.
“It’s never a red card, but he’ll get one if it ends the match.” I believe he entered the game honestly, but his foot slipped on top of the ball. I’m not sure—I never am now—and I’m less certain than I’ve ever been about football, but I don’t believe he entered the situation with malice.
“If you watch the last portion of it slowly, you’ll realize that it’s a red card. The speed at which these players rush into tackles—Bissouma is flying in, and so is Curtis Jones—must be observed in full motion at high speed. But look, I thought a yellow would have been appropriate given the ambiguity on things.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool was sent for a late challenge on Yves Bissouma.
Spurs took the lead through Son Heung-min, and after a strong start, Liverpool’s momentum in the game was hampered by the red card. Richarlison received James Maddison’s pin-point pass in the left channel, and he squared it to Son, who tapped it in from close range.
Despite being down a man, Liverpool rallied admirably after falling behind and tied the score in extra time with a close-range goal from Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman had a great finish, turning and crashing the ball past Vicario into the back of the net.
