Should Van de Ven have been sent off for Isak tackle?

The Premier League witnessed a thrilling match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, with the latter ending up with nine men. The game saw a crucial moment when Alexander Isak scored a goal, but in the process, he suffered an injury. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven should have been sent off for his tackle on Isak.

Details

The incident occurred when Isak released a shot, and Van de Ven slid in to make a block. However, Isak’s shooting foot landed between Van de Ven’s legs, resulting in an injury to his lower left leg. The question is whether Van de Ven’s challenge was a genuine attempt to block the shot or a reckless tackle that warrants a red card.

VAR Intervention

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel voted 3-2 that Manchester City should have been awarded a penalty at Newcastle last month. Fabian Schar had kicked through the boot of Phil Foden after he had taken a shot, but there was no VAR intervention. In this case, there is no case for a penalty, but could the VAR have deemed it a red card for serious foul play?

Opinions

Opinions may be influenced by the injury to Isak, but it does not have to be the result of foul play – it can simply be an unfortunate consequence. It is essential to look at how Van de Ven makes the challenge and also how Isak comes to sustain the injury. If Van de Ven had gone through Isak’s standing foot or tackled his opponent directly, it would have been a different discussion.

Conclusion

Van de Ven’s challenge appears to be an accidental collision as part of a normal defensive action. While defenders are rarely penalized for their challenges after a shot is struck by an attacker, this incident seems to be an exception. However, it is crucial to consider that a defender can be sent off if they try to stop a shot and clatter into an attacker.

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