“You can’t overlook this” – Tottenham player deserves a ban for his challenge against Everton

Pedro Porro was fortunate to escape punishment for an incident in Tottenham’s weekend victory over Everton, according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett argued that referee Craig Pawson missed a clear sending-off offence during Spurs’ 3-0 win on Sunday, 26 October. The match also saw controversy when Idrissa Gueye was denied a penalty after a collision with Mohammed Kudus, a decision that many at the Hill Dickonson Stadium believed was incorrect.

Despite the controversy, Tottenham climbed to third in the Premier League table thanks to a brace from Micky van de Ven and a goal from Pape Sarr — their fifth win in nine games.

After the match, social media circulated an image of Porro’s challenge, showing the defender catching an Everton player high on the leg — well above the ankle. Although the foul was visible on television, neither Pawson nor VAR intervened, allowing the Spaniard to avoid any disciplinary action.

Hackett suggested that the incident could have significantly altered the outcome of the match, comparing it to other recent controversial calls. He noted that Porro, who received only five yellow cards and no reds last season, is not typically a reckless player, but was “very lucky” on this occasion.

In his comments, Hackett urged referees to take a firmer stance on such tackles:

> “We’re seeing more of these stamping actions, and referees think players are just going for the ball,” he said. “Often, the point of contact is on top of the boot or around the ankle joint. For me, that endangers an opponent’s safety — I’d lean towards a red card. At the very least, it’s reckless and deserves a yellow.

> “You can’t ignore this trend. Just because a player attempts to play the ball doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be punished.”