Paul Robinson warned the PGMOL and refereeing in the Premier League was at risk of being perceived with a tinge of amusement outside the UK following a series of dubious calls in Liverpool’s draw with Tottenham.
Prime amongst them was Harry Kane’s studs-up challenge against Andy Robertson, which only received a yellow card.
“Listen, I’m biased towards Tottenham but even then I see no argument for Kane not being sent off there,” the former England international told Football Insider.
“They didn’t even go through the protocols. VAR should have intervened.
“The PGMOL are making bad decisions every week. Other countries will be bemused as to how that’s not a sending-off. If that was seen in a European competition Kane would be sent off.
“To suggest he didn’t get sent off because he is England captain is ludicrous though. Kane got away with one. Truthfully, it was a red card.”
It’s testament to the sheer reckless nature of the challenge that most observing the incident during and post-game agreed that a more serious punishment was warranted from Paul Tierney and his officiating team.
More broadly, it’s absolutely inevitable that officiating in the English top-flight will be ridiculed by those outside the country in light of such inconsistent and bizarre decision-making from the likes of Paul Tierney and his colleagues on a weekly basis.
With things far from improving as the season goes on, it’s getting increasingly difficult to ignore calls for widespread reform backed by the likes of former PGMOL chief, Keith Hackett.
It makes absolutely no sense that what many commentators perceive to be the highest quality division in world football should be inundated with referees struggling to match that level of quality.
9,000 Liverpool fans make judgement call on VAR after diabolical officiating of Tottenham clash
Kane’s nose blocked Tierney’s sight of the tackle. The fact that Robbo does the reasonable thing in trying to avoid a serious injury defies any logic from both Kane and Tierney.
By today’s rules, Kane should have got his marching orders and that’s coming from a big time Spurs fan. In fact, I was very surprised that he was only shown a yellow card. Two things came to mind;1: He hasn’t learnt his lesson of a few years back when he picked up a serious injury when attempting the same tackle in the same area of the pitch against Millwall in the FA Cup. Secondly, he got away with it because he’s the England Captain. That may sound churlish but it does leave the question open.
Surprisingly Kane got away with a yellow for a bloodred becuse he is the England Captain and also a frtiend with referee of the maych: Paul thiereny.