Former referee reveals whether Brobbey deserved a red card vs Tottenham

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has now delivered his verdict on the incident involving Cristian Romero, Brian Brobbey and Antonin Kinsky in Sunderland vs Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to be without Cristian Romero for at least five to seven weeks following the injury he picked up in Spurs’ game against Sunderland.

The Argentine was nudged in the back by Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey while shielding the ball – an incident that led to a serious collision between the centre-back and Antonin Kinsky.

Romero came off worse, with the injury effectively bringing an end to his season after he left the pitch in tears, while Kinsky had to have his head bandaged for the rest of the game.

Tottenham incident analysed as Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on Cristian Romero collision

Many Tottenham fans feel aggrieved by the decision of the referee, who did not penalise Brobbey after he nudged Romero in the back with no intention to play the ball.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports, has now given his verdict on the incident, explaining whether it warranted a second yellow card.

Addressing the nature of the challenge and the role the outcome played in shaping opinions, he said:

“I think we have to be careful, Matt, that we do not get seduced by the outcome – the injury, because if the goalkeeper is not there, a little nudge like that, are you going to send him off because it is a second yellow card? The answer is most certainly no.

“But, unlucky, the goalkeeper comes out and a collision occurs and that suddenly ramps everybody’s perspective of it. It is obviously a very serious foul, but it was not a serious foul. If you look at the nuts and bolts, it is just a little push.”

Excuses made for Brian Brobbey after Romero injury

Forward Jay Bothroyd also weighed in on the Sunderland vs Tottenham incident, offering a player’s perspective on what happened and why such situations often occur.

Explaining his frustration with defenders shielding the ball without being in control, he said: “Can I just say one thing about this from a player’s point of view?

“Forwards hate this because when you look at this, Romero is not in control of the ball and all he is doing is trying to block the player from getting the ball, right?

“I hate this. Do you know when they are trying to shield the ball out, they are not actually in control of the ball but they are blocking the player from getting the ball.

“He does not want control of the ball and that is what has happened there. So at some point Brobbey is like he cannot see the ball anymore because he is so close to Romero.

“So it is almost like he has just pushed him to one side, maybe where he can see the ball, but that is the kind of incident that comes because defenders are trying to shield the ball. Like we see it all the time when it is going out.”

When asked whether it is within the laws of the game, Bothroyd suggested it is not strictly allowed, while acknowledging how common it has become.

He added, “You are not really, are you? Because you are blocking someone from getting to the ball without being in control of it.

“You are not actually allowed to. You are not allowed to block a player from getting the ball if you are not in control of it. But that is what happens now because it is just normal, it is part of the game.

“But that is what has happened there and look, Romero is just trying to shield the ball, he is waiting for the keeper to come out, he is not thinking I want to control this and then pass it back. And that is why that collision has actually happened.”

Dermot Gallagher then concluded by reiterating his stance, stressing the minimal nature of the contact despite the serious outcome for the Tottenham captain. He said:

“The bottom line is, when you look at it, it is a little push. If the keeper is not there, it just gets washed away, but unfortunately, the keeper is there, sustains an injury, and everything just ramps up.”

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