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.
- Initial Yellow Card: Referee Andrew Madley originally showed Kudus a yellow card for raising his hand to an opponent’s face, a decision that was supported by commentator Ally McCoist.
- Controversial Opinion: McCoist’s comments, suggesting that a yellow card should have sufficed, sparked a backlash on social media, with many fans criticizing his perspective.
- VAR Intervention: After reviewing the incident via VAR, the referee upgraded the card to a red, aligning with lead commentator Darren Fletcher’s prediction that Kudus would be sent off retrospectively.
- Debate on Modern Officiating: The incident reignited discussions about the direction of football officiating, particularly the use of VAR and whether modern rules are making the game too strict.
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.