Efan Ekoku has suggested, during Sky Sports live coverage on Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion, that referees need to get wise to Harry Kane’s trickery.
Kane earned Tottenham a penalty in controversial fashion yesterday.
The England captain took two glances backwards before positioning his body between Brighton’s Adam Lallana and the ball.
Lallana then tried to challenge for the header, but jumped straight into Kane’s back and Spurs were awarded a spot kick.
It is a technique that Kane seems to have mastered, as he has earned a lot of free-kicks in a similar method.
There has now been a great debate over whether the ploy should be classed in a similar bracket to diving, or whether it is simply clever play.
But Ekoku feels that officials need to start realising what Kane is doing.
“I think referees have got to spot that and realise Kane is making no attempt for the ball,” Ekoku said. “But he gets those free kicks.
“Remember the early goal against Manchester United, and the free kick on the half way line. He leaned into Harry Maguire.”
Kane’s controversial penalty may have been a talking point, but Tottenham could still feel hard done by by VAR again last night.
Spurs midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg was clearly fouled in the build-up to Brighton’s goal but, despite viewing the incident on a pitch side monitor, Graham Scott confusingly decided not to change his decision and award a free-kick.
Thankfully for Tottenham that decision didn’t prove costly, as Gareth Bale went on to grab the winner and send his side up to second in the Premier League table.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
