“You can’t overlook this” – Tottenham player faces calls for a ban after incident against Everton
According to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro was extremely fortunate to avoid being sent off during his side’s 3-0 victory over Everton on Sunday, 26 October. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett criticised referee Craig Pawson for failing to take action against what he described as a “dangerous” challenge that could have warranted a red card.
The match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was not without controversy. Early in the game, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye appeared to be fouled in the penalty area after a coming together with Mohammed Kudus, but referee Craig Pawson waved away the appeals. Many inside the stadium believed that the Toffees had been wronged, with replays suggesting that contact was sufficient for a spot-kick.
Tottenham went on to take full advantage, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice and Pape Sarr adding a third to seal a comfortable win. The result lifted the Lilywhites into third place in the Premier League table, marking their fifth victory in nine league outings. However, Hackett suggested that the game could have unfolded very differently if Pawson and VAR had dealt appropriately with Porro’s challenge.
Following the final whistle, a still image began circulating widely on social media, showing Porro clattering into an Everton player with his studs raised and making contact high up the leg — far above the ankle. Despite the clear view provided by television cameras, there was no VAR intervention, and the Spanish full-back escaped without even a booking.
Hackett expressed disappointment at the lack of punishment and urged officials to take a stronger approach toward such incidents. He argued that the type of challenge made by Porro has become more common in recent months and warned that it represents a growing danger to player safety.
> “I wanted to touch on this because it’s really important,” Hackett told Football Insider. “We’re seeing more of a stamping motion in challenges, and referees are too often assuming the player is just trying to win the ball. The problem is where the foot lands — it’s usually on top of the opponent’s boot or around the junction of the leg and ankle. That’s an area where serious injuries happen. Referees have got to stamp this out before it becomes the norm.”
He went on to explain that although Porro is not known for being a malicious player — having collected just five yellow cards and no reds in the Premier League last season — the intent or outcome of such tackles should not be ignored.
> “For me, these challenges endanger the safety of an opponent,” Hackett continued. “When that’s the case, it has to be considered serious foul play and punished with a red card. The conservative view might be that it’s only reckless and therefore a yellow, but personally, I’d lean towards red. You cannot ignore this. It’s creeping into the game, and too many referees are being lenient simply because there’s an attempt to play the ball.”
Hackett concluded that incidents like Porro’s must serve as a wake-up call for referees and the VAR team to take a firmer stance against dangerous play. He emphasised that allowing such tackles to go unpunished sends the wrong message and undermines efforts to protect players from serious injury.
