Xavi Simons was sent off during the match with Liverpool, which Spurs went on to lose 2–1, with Cristian Romero also receiving his marching orders
Tottenham have received two new verdicts on Xavi Simons’ red card from their Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday evening. Jamie Redknapp and Daniel Sturridge have both analysed the incident on Sky Sports after the Dutch star was sent off off for a ‘serious’ challenge on his Netherlands teammate and captain Virgil van Dijk.
As it was serious foul play, he will be banned for three games. VAR recommended a review after John Brooks initially showed a yellow card, and the referee overturned it to send Simons off.
An explanation of the decision was later made by the Premier League Match Centre on X. It read: “#TOTLIV – 30’ VAR OVERTURN After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play.
“Referee announcement: ‘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.'”
On the incident, Redknapp said on Sky Sports: “Normally red cards ruin games but not in this case because it’s been that bad; I mean the game has been awful.
“Xavi Simons has just done something so ridiculous, I just don’t know what he’s thinking. Trying to add some intensity to the game, show some aggression, but he’s just got it completely wrong.
“Of course it’s a little bit unlucky; he bumps into the back of him, but he catches his Achilles and it’s a stupid challenge which unfortunately constitutes a red card in this day and age.”
Meanwhile, former Reds star Sturridge shared his view, adding: “Yeah, it’s unfortunate. It does, it does look a lot worse [in slow motion], and I’ve been the guy, like Xavi Simons, trying to affect the game – defending is not your high skillset.
“You’re trying to effect, trying to barge into somebody or do something and he’s just got it wrong in how he’s gone about it.
“I don’t think he’s a malicious type of player who would intentionally want to try and injure his national teammate. He’s trying to press, he’s trying to show the fans, affect the game and he’s got it completely wrong.”
Redknapp then mentioned a similar incident involving Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, who was punished for a similar offence.
“Do you think the way Virgil is with it – trying to entice the pressure – there was a very similar one, the intensity of the one earlier in the season with Anthony Gordon when he comes crashing into the back of him,” the former Liverpool midfielder added.
“But Virgil does sometimes do that. But this one [from Gordon] – that ticks every box for a red card.
“Virgil is obviously involved with that one as well, that’s a lot, lot worse. But you can just see there was enough in the other one for Xavi for it to just be a red card.
“I really don’t like to see players – I don’t think it’s malicious, it’s his fellow countryman, I don’t think he wants to hurt him – it’s just a complete accident, I just feel it brings the red into the game.”
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