Noel Whelan thinks Antonio Conte right to be angry with VAR after Tottenham red card vs Arsenal
Emerson Royal was shown a red card in the 62nd minute of Tottenham Hotspur’s north London derby against Arsenal on Saturday at the Emirates. The Brazil international was penalised for a late challenge on Gabriel Martinelli.
After VAR reviewed the incident, referee Anthony Taylor deemed it fit to send Emerson off. Arsenal were leading 2-1 at that but the red card killed the game for Spurs.
The Gunners scored a third via Granit Xhaka five minutes later and it was curtains for Spurs’ unbeaten start to the PL season. Speaking after the game, an evidently irritated Antonio Conte did not hide his feelings about the incident.
He said (h/t Sky Sports) that VAR in England needs to work a lot in order to improve and reach a higher level of officiating.
“Sometimes you see situations that could be a red card instead, or instead a yellow card or no yellow card. They have to work a lot about this.”
Now, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has told exclusively to Football Insider that there isn’t much in the challenge for Emerson to be sent off. While a case could be made for a red card, he has seen worse challenges go unpunished.
“I’ve looked at it again and again, and in slow motion. There’s no actual tackle there. There’s no power behind the challenge.”
“It’s a dangle of a leg and a clumsy one at that. I don’t think it was deserving of a red. There be other people saying it’s dangerous contact because he’s used the studs, and I get that. But I’ve seen worse let go.”
