Son Heung-min ‘to be reported to FA’ after footage of Tottenham v Man City incident
Son Heung-min faces being reported to the FA after Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Erling Haaland’s first-half strike was enough to seal all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side while Ange Postecoglou saw Tottenham’s three-match winning streak in the Premier League end.
While Spurs put up a good fight against the reigning champions, City could have easily finished the game as 2-0 winners with Haaland, 24, having a last-gasp goal disallowed by referee Jarred Gillet.
VAR stood by Gillet’s on-field decision that Haaland handled the ball before he scored, although replays don’t definitively say the Norwegian did so.
The VAR check led to an already-protracted stoppage time seeping into a ninth minute before Gillet blew for full-time and sparked protests from Tottenham’s players.
Son ‘lucky to escape punishment’ v Man City
TNT Sports’ cameras clearly showed Son in a heated discussion with Gillet at full-time with Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence also sharing their thoughts with the Aussie referee.
Keith Hackett believes Son’s behaviour should have seen him booked.
The former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee also believes the South Korean star could feature in Gillet’s match report to The FA due to his post-match behaviour.
“Jarred Gillet has delivered two very good performances in recent days. His movement and maintaining contact with play throughout was excellent and his decision-making was made with confidence,” Hackett told Tottenham News
| Son stats v Man City | |
| Minutes played | 23 |
| Total shots (on target) | 1 (1) |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 7/9 (78%) |
| Touches | 11 |
“His judgement about that handball and disallowed goal was perhaps the only point that I would make any comment about. He decided that a handball had taken place and ruled out a Man City goal.
“The Spurs players should look at themselves and I hope that the referee will include in his report the behaviour of Son, who was rather fortunate to escape a sanction for his clear and sustained protest.
“Did Son not see that a goal by Manchester City had been ruled out by Gillet?
“If he was protesting about the amount of time added on he should read Law 5. It states that the referee is the sole timekeeper.
“I feel Son was clutching at straws in this one.
“I would have liked Gillet to have shown him a yellow card in order for him to re-assert his authority.”
Son desperation as poor season continues
For only the third time in the Premier League this season, Son played after coming off the bench as a substitute.
There’s no doubt that this season has been the South Korean’s worst in Tottenham colours with Spurs struggling massively without him to rely on to score or create the goals.
Still, Son has 10 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions this season, meaning he’s averaged more than one direct goal contribution every other game.
However, there was a hint of desperation about his appeals to Gillet at the end of the game and Postecoglou will no doubt want rid of that going into next week’s Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar.