Dermot Gallagher says Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min didn’t dive

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur won against Leicester City at the weekend.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has told Sky Sports that Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min did not dive against Leicester City at the weekend.

Early in the Premier League game between Tottenham and Leicester at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, Son went down inside the Foxes’ penalty box under a challenge from Harry Maguire.

The South Korea international - who can operate as a winger or as a forward - was booked for simulation, although it did not affect the result, as Spurs won 3-1.

Former Premier League referee Gallagher believes that Son did not dive, and that the attacker should have won a penalty.

Gallagher told Sky Sports: “I thought it was a penalty - it's certainly not simulation, is it?

“There is so much contact that even if you say that he initiated it, it would be very difficult. I think the expected decision there for everyone was a penalty.”

Title challenge

The win against Leicester means that Tottenham remain in the hunt for the Premier League title this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are third in the league table at the moment with 60 points from 26 matches, five points behind Manchester City and Liverpool, who are first and second respectively in the standings.

According to WhoScored, Son has made 15 starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League for Tottenham so far this season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in the process.