Neville makes a stink about VAR after controversial decision “stung” Tottenham and Liverpool
Curtis Jones was red carded for a late tackle on Yves Bissouma after VAR intervened, but Gary Neville didn’t think he made the right call.
Gary Neville has regretted the decision to show Curtis Jones a straight red card during Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham – and felt a yellow card would have been “good”.
Jones, 22, was initially warned Yves Bissouma for being late. However, VAR told referee Simon Hooper to review the challenge again. Replays showed Jones caught Bissouma underfoot as he dived over the top.
After monitoring the VAR at the side of the pitch, Hooper decided to reverse his original decision and send Jones off, leaving Liverpool down to 10 men for the hour. But former Manchester United defender Neville doesn’t think it was the right call and admitted it “stung” the game.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: “No, I know if you do someone on purpose, I’ve done it to myself before and he doesn’t do it. He [VAR] shows him [the referee] the end of the game. and not really – his leg slides over the ball.
“It’s never a red card and he gets it when it spoils the game. I think usually he’s really got in but his foot slips on the ball. I’m not sure, I never am today, I’m less sure about football than I’ve ever been, but I don’t think he’s done anything wrong.
“When you see the rest of it in slow motion, you come to the conclusion that it’s a red card. You have to look at all the movement at full speed, the speed of these players in the tackle, Bissouma flying and also Curtis. Jones. But look , I felt that yellow would be appropriate for such ambiguity for.”
After a bright start, a red card dampened Liverpool’s momentum as Tottenham took the lead through Son Heung-min’s goal. James Maddison’s inch-perfect pass found Richarlison in the left channel and he laid the ball to Son who tapped home from close range. Despite being a man down, Liverpool responded well to going behind and equalized on the stroke of half-time when Cody Gakpo fired home from close range. It was a great goal from the Dutchman, who turned and put the ball into Vicario’s net.
