Micky van de Ven was sent off in Tottenham’s dismal 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Just when Tottenham Hotspur fans thought they’d seen it all from their team this season, they are forced to rethink now, after Crystal Palace won the London derby 3-1 in North London on Thursday evening.
After Spurs were lucky to get away with the marginal offside call for Ismaila Sarr’s goal, they made it count by going at the other end and scoring. Dominic Solanke gave the hosts the lead following brilliant play from Archie Gray on the right. However, the lead lasted just for a couple of minutes.
Micky van de Ven received his marching orders for denying Ismaila Sarr a clear goalscoring opportunity, conceding a penalty in the process. Sarr calmly rolled past Guglielmo Vicario for 1-1, before Crystal Palace shifted gears. Two first-half stoppage-time strikes from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Sarr gave the Eagles a two-goal cushion and deepened Igor Tudor’s concerns on the touchline.
Keith Hackett thinks referee Andy Madley made the right call to dismiss Micky van de Ven vs. Crystal Palace
It doesn’t take rocket science to gauge that the red card to Micky van de Ven completely changed the complexion of the game. It wasn’t like Tottenham were playing champagne football and dominating Palace, but the players were showing fight and spirit in contrast to their displays against Arsenal and Fulham. And the home side taking the lead via Solanke had calmed the nerves around the stadium, which was apparently felt every time Oliver Glasner’s men got into promising attacking positions.
It was a moment of madness from Van de Ven when Strand Larsen’s header sent Sarr through on goal. The Senegalese international looked set to score the equaliser, but was hauled back by Van de Ven. Referee Andy Madley immediately pointed to the spot and brandished the red card to the stand-in Tottenham skipper. VAR quickly checked both decisions and concluded that Andy Madley had made the right call.
After the game, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett confirmed that VAR had to regulate whether Van de Ven pulled Sarr and denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“Micky Van de Ven has fouled his opponent. The question VAR has to ask is, had the foul not taken place, would the player have got his shot away, or goalkeeper gained possession?” Keith Hackett exclusively told Tottenham News.
“It is a judgement and on this the referee has made the correct call.”
Tudor would have been livid with Van de Ven
Van de Ven has been Tottenham’s standout performer in an otherwise dismal domestic campaign. When the chips have been down, the Dutchman has dragged his team to get a result with his sheer brilliance in both boxes. However, the 24-year-old’s performance levels have dipped in recent weeks, and he endured probably his worst day in a Spurs shirt on Thursday.
The centre-back’s reckless moment turned the game upside down. Not only did Van de Ven give away a penalty, but he also got himself sent off for his poor decision-making. The Netherlands international should’ve just let Sarr score the equaliser, rather than hacking him down and taking a blatant red card.
When maturity was most expected in a critical situation, Van de Ven flinched. He has to shoulder the blame for Spurs losing to Palace and continuing their winless run in 2026.