Initially, referee Andrew Madley showed Kudus a yellow card, a decision that commentator Ally McCoist supported. During the live broadcast on TNT Sports, McCoist stated, “I don’t think there’s an awful lot, but he puts his hand to his face. I really hope it’s a yellow, but it could be a red. I’d be delighted if he stays on the field. It’s a right hand to the face, it’s not a punch.” However, lead commentator Darren Fletcher suggested that Kudus would likely be retrospectively sent off due to the raised hand, a prediction that came true after Madley reviewed the situation on the pitch-side monitor.
- Referee Andrew Madley initially gave Kudus a yellow card, which commentator Ally McCoist supported, stating it was not severe enough for a red card.
- Lead commentator Darren Fletcher predicted Kudus would be sent off after a review, which eventually happened following a pitch-side VAR check.
- Fans criticized McCoist’s opinion on social media, with some expressing disbelief at his stance, while others agreed with his “old-school” perspective that football has become too strict.
- Despite Kudus’ earlier goal for West Ham, Tottenham came back strongly in the second half to win the game, overshadowing Kudus’ contribution.
McCoist’s comments have sparked a wave of criticism from fans on social media, who were taken aback by his opinion. Numerous users expressed their disbelief, including @JMitchell82 who tweeted, “Kudus only getting a booking is the worst officiating I’ve ever seen. He deserved about 3 separate red cards. Ally McCoist talking some of the biggest nonsense I’ve ever heard too.” Despite the backlash, some fans showed support for McCoist’s perspective, arguing that the game has become too soft in recent years.
The incident has also raised questions about the current state of officiating and the use of video assistant referees (VAR) in football. While McCoist eventually acknowledged that the referee was correct in sending Kudus off according to the rules, he maintained his stance that a yellow card would have sufficed. He argued, “By the letter of the law, he’s [the referee] right. But book him and let’s get on with the game… is this where we want to go, is this the road we want to go down? I’m probably old school. Give him a booking let’s get on with the game.”
Kudus’ red card overshadowed his earlier performance, where he had put West Ham ahead in the first half with a crucial goal. However, Tottenham turned the game around in the second half, with Dejan Kulusevski leveling the score before Spurs scored three more goals in quick succession to secure the victory.