Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport’s Champions League Tonight that Tottenham manager Antonio Conte will be feeling “embarrassed” after his celebration for Harry Kane’s disallowed winner against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
With the scoreline reading 1-1 after Rodrigo Bentancur ruled out Marcus Edwards’ opener, Kane slammed in a winner in the final few seconds. But after a four-minute VAR review, the goal was disallowed – with Kane adjudged offside.
By a whisker. When the goal went in, there was no thought of a potential offside among the Tottenham players, fans and staff. Conte is ecstatic, flying down the touchline and celebrating with his Tottenham family. But it was shattered.
Despite Emerson Royal’s header going backwards, the ball deflected into Kane. Peter Crouch explains that despite the ball going backwards, Kane is still ahead of Royal. That means he is offside. Ferdinand said Conte will be embarrassed.
“Imagine the embarrassment of having to look at the pictures of you celebrating down the line. Conte going crazy, and the goal gets chalked off. I’d be scared to celebrate if it could be chalked off. It takes the fun, the emotion out of it.”
Ferdinand: Tottenham manager Conte will be feeling embarrassed
Conte will not be feeling embarrassed. He was well within his rights to celebrate the way he did as Tottenham thought they had a dramatic winner. At the end of the day, it was not just a win over Sporting – but qualification, too.
That, and that it would have allowed Conte to rest the likes of Kane, Son Heung-min, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Eric Dier and other mainstays in the Tottenham side. So, his celebration is just. As is his frustration, and receiving a red card.
In the heat of the moment, it was always going to happen. In fact, the referee’s red card was harsh; a yellow would have sufficed initially and if Conte had continued to berate the referee, then a red would have been fair.
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