Howard Webb reacts as controversial Tottenham footage emerges again

Howard Webb believes Anthony Taylor was right not to send Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo off in the thrilling 4-3 win over Tottenham.

The Ecuador midfielder escaped punishment for a tackle that caught Pape Matar Sarr on the shin, with VAR deeming it not worthy of sending on-field referee Taylor to the pitchside monitor.

Speaking on the latest edition of Match Officials Mic’d Up (Premier League official website, 11 December), PGMOL chief Webb told host Michael Owen that he thinks a yellow card should have been shown in a match where Spurs blew a two-goal lead.

“I think a yellow card should have been shown. Caicedo received no disciplinary sanction for that action. I think his actions are reckless,” he said.

“I know there was talk about the possibility of this being a red card. Some people felt it was. It’s not a red card for me. This is a situation where Moises Caicedo goes to swing to kick a ball, which is kicked away from him by Pape Sarr.”

Owen replied: “Is that what saves him? That if he actually follows through here, it could be a leg-breaker. It is, quite high. But the fact that his foot then plants, it’s not got so much power behind it.”

Webb replied: “It is high. But slow motion, freeze frames, can make something look quite different. At full speed, there’s no real energy coming through that foot into the shin. It comes off really quickly. So there’s not the kind of exertion of force through into the opponent’s leg which would do the damage. This hits the leg and comes off quickly. 

“It’s an action to strike, not forcing all his weight through that front foot. So it should be a yellow card for reckless action, but falls short of being serious foul play because it’s a kick to the leg and then it comes off quickly as opposed to that force being driven through into the opponent’s leg.”

Tottenham hard done by Moises Caideco decision in Chelsea defeat

It was another frustrating outing for Spurs, who raced into a 2-0 lead before falling to a dispiriting 4-3 defeat against their London rivals at the Tottenhm Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (9 December).

But there was a huge bone of contention about Caicedo’s challenge on Sarr and you cannot help but feel that Taylor should at least have been asked to go and take a second look.

He might have decided to stick with his on-field decision, as is his want as the match official, but the fact he wasn’t even advised to give it another gander smacks of inconsistency and Spurs can definitely feel hard done.

Ultimately, Ange Postecoglou and his team have to take responsibility for not making the most of a position of strength and there was plenty to dislike away from this flashpoint.

But there have definitely been red cards handed out for much less, all anyone asks for is consistency.

In other Tottenham news, one big-name player is not happy with a signing made by Ange.

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