Igor Tudor continued his losing start as Tottenham manager and his post-match comments about referee Thomas Bramall and Fulham's Raul Jimenez could land him in trouble
Tottenham boss Igor Tudor has risked being punished by the FA for his criticism of the referee in Spurs' abject 2-1 loss away to Fulham on Sunday. Tudor, 47, made some fiery post-match comments, including labelling Fulham striker Raul Jimenez a 'cheat'.
The Croatian, who took charge of Tottenham a fortnight ago, has lost both of his games, leaving them 16th in the Premier League table and only four points above the relegation zone. Spurs went behind after just seven minutes at Craven Cottage, as Harry Wilson broke the deadlock.
But Tudor was unhappy with part of the build-up to the goal, arguing that Jimenez had fouled Tottenham centre-back Radu Dragusin. It was similar to an incident in last weekend's North London derby, as Spurs were controversially denied a goal for a push on Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes by Randal Kolo Muani.
"Of course it's a foul, I think," Tudor said regarding Sunday's incident. "Nine out of 10 people will say it's a foul, I believe, because it's so obvious, you know.
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"Sometimes they don't understand it's enough, even small contact, you know, if it gives you an advantage to score the goal, you need to cancel this, finish it. It's not about a normal duel when he's soft, no, when he pushes with the hands and don't watch the ball, no. Sometimes it's just easy to get advantage."
The ex-Juventus manager also took aim at referee Thomas Bramall's performance, saying: "I didn't like the referee today, too much of a home team referee. I didn't feel well with him. All the decisions were on their side. He doesn't understand football, the feeling of what is wrong and what is right."
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His comments on Bramall could be deemed as a violation of FA rules. Rule E3 which covers improper conduct, insulting words or bringing the game into disrepute.
Tudor wasn't done there, though, doubling down on his verdict on Wilson's goal. "This is ridiculous to not give the foul, because the consequence is too big. It's not a small foul in the middle of the pitch, it's a goal after," he added.
"There is a logic in that, so the referee, beautiful thing to keep playing here, let's play strong, duel, it's fantastic, I like it. But there is a logic, if the goal is, because he take advantage, not thinking about football, he was not thinking about the ball, he was thinking how to cheat.
"He cheated, the player, with pushing and they scored the goal. So, it's logic, it's cheating and there's the foul. It's not the thing of duel and they want that here is a football is more, you know, tough and we like the duels, it's nothing with that. there was no logic in this decision and logic is above everything, after come other things."
Tottenham are next in action on Thursday, hosting Crystal Palace. By then, Tudor's side could find themselves in 17th place and a mere one point above the drop zone.