Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on Sunday, which was another blow to their Premier League season.
Their third straight league loss sent shockwaves through a season that had started off promisingly.
Spurs had an amazing start to the season, winning eight of their ten games, drawing two, and going undefeated.
However, injuries and setbacks have plagued their progress, and the Chelsea game turned out to be a turning moment for them.
And in their loss to Villa, they experienced yet another blow. Matty Cash’s rough tackle on Uruguayan midfielder Bentancur, who was starting for the first time since February, injured his ankle and had to be replaced.
He joins an expanding list that will sideline important players until 2024, including Micky van de Ven and James Maddison.
The manager of Tottenham criticised the tackle and bemoaned the club’s recurring injury crisis after the game, expressing his dismay at Bentancur’s injury. He declared:
Concerning the Bentancur injury, he responded as follows (Evening Standard):
“Not sure. It’s his ankle, I think. It wasn’t a great tackle. I thought he started the game so well.”
“That’s the last thing we need — another injury. We’ve got eight [players injured], Bentancur nine. We lost Ashley Phillips in the week as well. It’s just the situation we’re in at the minute.”
Tottenham performed admirably despite the loss, with a disappointing result that did not reflect their hard work.
Both sides had plenty of opportunities, but Emiliano Martinez, the custodian for Aston Villa, made incredible saves to deny Spurs, leaving them upset with goals that were disallowed and chances that were squandered.
In a related development:
Kieran Maguire: As the Defoe case “becomes warmer,” Tottenham could receive a catastrophic “competition ban.”
In the event that the FA finds Tottenham guilty of agent-related violations, they may be prohibited from participating in specific competitions.
According to financial expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke with Football Insider exclusively, the FA has the right to reopen Tottenham’s case because there isn’t a statute of limitations.
The Times’ research revealed that Jermain Defoe’s 2008 transfer from Tottenham to Portsmouth required the use of an unregistered agent.
Agent Mitchell Thomas, who was included by the Football Association in 2008 on a list of agents who had been working in football without a licence, was negotiated with by Defoe, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Given that the FA has indicated they are willing to reopen the matter, the additional evidence may be given to them.
Luton Town received a point deduction for an agent-related infraction in the same year as Tottenham’s example.
In the event of a conviction, Maguire thinks the North London club would face a competitive ban or perhaps a point deduction.
“Manchester City’s case goes back to 2009 and the Premier League seem to have no issue with the statute of limitations that exist,” Maguire told Sean Fisher.
“So I see no reason why they can’t re-open Tottenham’s case.
“In respect of that, the Football Association made a decision based on the evidence that was presented in 2007/08.
“If further evidence has come to light, then it’s effectively a cold case which has become warmer.
“The FA has no statute of limitations, so I cannot see what will stop them from investigating.
“So we’ll have to wait to see what happens, but we’ve seen other clubs be handed some quite significant penalties for player-related issues.
“Being barred from competitions would be one possible route.
“Luton were also handed a points deduction for agent-related issues that year
