UEFA Needs to do Better Protecting and Respecting Tottenham Stars

Sure Europa League is the second competition to the Champions League but with Ronaldo and Messi out, UEFA needs some star power. Harry Kane and Gareth Bale are about as much star power as you can get which brings ratings and attention. However, UEFA and their officials have to do a better job protecting Kane and Bale and respecting their teammates than they do. The sad officiating display on Thursday in London cannot be tolerated as the Spurs continue to advance in the Europa League.

Tottenham not Getting Calls

Much gets made – and rightfully so – of the number of penalty kicks some teams end up receiving and others do not. While there is always the possibility that a player is diving and getting away with something, the call missed on Tanguy Ndombele in the box was simply inexplicable.

The Frenchman made a stepover and as he did the defender took a swing and clipped him right on the foot. At worst it is a bad foul at best is simply clumsy defending from a player clearly befuddled by Ndombele’s footwork. The referee was out of position, on the other side of the pitch so one can maybe understand him not initially whistling the play as it happened very quickly.

However, the fact that VAR then did not review the play and bring it back for a penalty for Tottenham Hotspur brings into question some malfeasance on the UEFA officials. The ridiculous penalties that have been awarded against Tottenham and for other teams under far less clear and obvious circumstances make one wonder aloud about the virtue of the officiating in UEFA but that is nothing new.

Beyond missing calls, the referees failed to protect the players

Look I’ve been on the wrong side of a beating in sports and you get frustrated and you get chippy, it happens. However, suffering 20 fouls – as Spurs did in the win over Dinamo –  in a game is simply unacceptable. The fact that those 20 fouls led to only three cards – the same number Tottenham got on half as many calls show just how pitiful the officiating was.

Harry Kane received a volley to his knee by a second player, after the first missed his ankle on the tackle attempt. Yet no card, just a bag of ice for the Tottenham talisman. Gareth Bale was tackled incredibly hard on the wing and did not even get a call in the situation. If you follow-through with your cleat and hit the player after getting the ball, it is still a foul.

Then we have Tanguy Ndombele, who at one point had four players try to foul him on the same play, yet did not get even one whistle. Anyone that comes in to tackle with both feet – again getting the ball or not – is not under control and should be called for the foul.

The worst part of all this is that not getting the calls and being hacked apart really is nothing new for Tottenham. Spurs have been on the short end of the penalties all season long both ways and we know that a number of teams – yes we are looking at you Manchester City – play defensively primarily through fouls to control the tempo.

This is supposed to be a beautiful game, being played by some of the best players and athletes in the world. Some of the best players are already out of European competition this season, it is time for UEFA to start protecting the ones that are left and showing Tottenham the respect they deserve on the pitch.