The Premier League have made an announcement to clarify a contentious incident in Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Spurs went into half-time of Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium level at 0-0.
Neither side could make a breakthrough in a first half that saw both sides enjoy spells on top, with Randal Kolo Muani’s tame header the closest Tottenham went to a breakthrough.
However, there was one major talking point in the first half as Xavi Simons was sent off after VAR intervened.
Xavi Simons sent off for bad challenge on Virgil van Dijk
Simons has impressed Thomas Frank of late, but he was foolishly sent off a little over half an hour in against Liverpool.
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The Netherlands international caught Virgil van Dijk on the Achilles and dragged his studs down, with the slow-motion replay doing little to help him.
Referee John Brooks initially awarded a yellow card, but VAR asked him to check the pitchside monitor and re-evaluate his decision.
And Brooks then decided the challenge was worthy of a red card, bringing an early end to his game and leaving Spurs with 10 men.
Gary Neville labelled Simons’ challenge on Van Dijk “ridiculous” and backed the decision to upgrade from a yellow to a red.
A statement via the Premier League Match Centre account on X read: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play.”
Referee Brooks himself announced on the field: “After review, the Tottenham No.7, with studs, catches the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high – it’s an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card.”
Tottenham were always underdogs to beat Liverpool, at least according to Opta’s supercomputer. so going down a man certainly did not help the Lilywhites’ cause.
What games will Simons now miss for Tottenham?
Simons will now serve a three-match ban for Spurs as a result of his idiotic challenge on Van Dijk.
The incident was only contentious due to the referee initially awarding a yellow card, but replays showed it was worthy of the upgrade to a red.
Frank will be without the Dutchman for games away at Crystal Palace and Brentford, as well as the visit of Sunderland on 4 January.
Simons will be back in contention for the trip to Bournemouth three days later, when he will be fully rested up.
That is the only positive to take from this moment of stupidity.