Alan Shearer wasn’t impressed by the officiating from Stuart Attwell and VAR as Cristian Stellini’s Tottenham Hotspur beat Robert De Zerbi’s Brighton 2-1 on Saturday in the Premier League.
Even before kick-off, there was drama when, both Cristian Stellini and Roberto De Zerbi, seemed to exchange words – although, it was the latter who was the one pointing the finger at his fellow countryman in a very aggressive manner, which seems to stem from what happened pre-match.
Nonetheless, there was drama off the field and major talking points on it, as Alan Shearer thinks Brighton should have been awarded two penalties – Kaoru Mitoma and Lewis Dunk.
Neither were given by Stuart Attwell or VAR as Tottenham rode their luck throughout the game, including Mitoma having a goal ruled out for an alleged handball.
Danny Welbeck was penalised for the same thing, but this time, his shot was deemed to have deflected off Alexis Mac Allister’s arm as it beat Hugo Lloris in between the sticks.
Either way, Shearer reacted to each incident and claimed that De Zerbi will get ‘an apology’ for the on-field officiating by Stuart Attwell and those on VAR duty, as he told Match of the Day.
On Mitoma’s goal ruled out for handball: “When you look at this one from Mitoma, the assistant actually gives handball,” said Shearer. “How on earth he can spot it?! Then it has to be a clear and obvious error, you can’t say it is. Very generous. The assistant gives the handball, so you have to say, ‘We will give you that one and you have to stick with the decision.”
On Welbeck’s ruled out goal: “This one is very harsh, I think as well. Welbeck takes the shot and it hits Mac Allister. We have slowed it down. I am not certain it hits his hand. It hits his hip. Okay, we will give them the benefit of the doubt again.”
On the Mitoma penalty shout: “This one is an awful decision. This is a clear and obvious error. It’s a howler. Stuart Attwell is looking straight down the barrel at it. Hojbjerg stands on Mitoma, it should be a clear penalty. De Zerbi, I am sure, will be getting an apology at some time in the next 48 hours to say ‘Sorry, we got that one wrong, it’s not good enough and it’s not acceptable’. That should be a clear penalty.”
On Dunk penalty claims: “This one, I think is a penalty on Dunk as well. Lenglet has got two hands on him.”
TOTTENHAM RIDE THEIR LUCK
Not only were Brighton done over by pathetic officiating, but they were by far the better team against their Champions League rivals.
In the end, it was a massive three points for Spurs and their fans won’t care how those points came about, as long as they are registered.
They are three points behind, both fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United, who have played a game less.
After Spurs take on Bournemouth next week, they lock horns with Newcastle and Manchester United, so you can imagine that their season rides on those games.
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