The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder ran the risk of picking up a second yellow card against Bournemouth.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Craig Pawson was right not to send Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Erik Lamela off in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. The retired referee explained why on Sky Sports Now (broadcast 24/10/16 on Sky Sports News HQ).
The Argentine picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Adam Smith, which Gallagher said the 24-year-old was rightfully booked for.
Lamela then made another rash challenge, this time on Dan Gosling, but Gallagher was not convinced it was even a foul, and was certain that he did not deserve to be sent off for a second booking, stating there is a stepping process referees go through when a player commits a series of fouls.
Tottenham’s Erik Lamela gestures to referee Craig Pawson
“Because a player’s got a yellow card you have to understated that his next tackle isn’t going to be a red card,” Gallagher told Sky Sports News HQ.
“There’s that stepping process, and it still counts when a player’s had a yellow card.
“It’s a myth that if a player has a yellow card, the next tackle he’s going to go. if you send a player off for that ,you’ve set your tolerance levels so so low.”
It was a feisty affair at the Vitality Stadium, which also saw an alleged elbow by Moussa Sissoko on Harry Arter go unpunished, although the French midfielder could face retrospective action.
Tottenham’s Erik Lamela reacts
However, Gallagher praised the way Pawson dealt with the Lamela situation, and believes he called it correctly, backing his decision to keep the Argentina international on the pitch.
The controversy overshadowed the action on the pitch, where Spurs extended their unbeaten start to the season, although they did miss the chance to go top of the Premier League.
Tottenham’s Erik Lamela in action with Bournemouth’s Adam Smith
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