Tottenham will be without Son Heung-Min for their games against Brighton, Norwich and Southampton after losing their appeal against his red card.
The South Korea forward was dismissed in the second half of the 2-0 loss to Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when VAR showed him kicking out at Antonio Rudiger in retaliation to being fouled.
Despite Spurs launching an appeal, the Football Association determined the red card stands, meaning the 27-year-old will now miss the matches at home to Brighton on Boxing Day, and at Norwich and Southampton on Saturday and New Year’s Day respectively.
Referee Anthony Taylor initially opted not to penalise Son for the challenge on Chelsea defender Rudiger, but VAR official Paul Tierney decided differently and advised Taylor to issue a red card.
It was the third red card for Son in 2019 as he was also sent off for pushing Jefferson Lerma at Bournemouth last season, then for a challenge on Everton’s Andre Gomes in November that broke the midfielder’s ankle.
Spurs also appealed against both dismissals, winning the latter.
Jose Mourinho previously said that if Son was suspended, it would be like receiving “five punishments”.
“I hope Son is not punished five times,” the manager said. “One time was the foul that Rudiger did on him. The second is to be sent off. The third would be not to play against Brighton.
“The fourth not to play against Norwich and the fifth not to play against Southampton. So I hope to be punished twice is enough, he doesn’t deserve for the third the fourth or the fifth.
“It would be a big loss [to lose Son]. We don’t have a big squad. We don’t have lots of players.
“This moment is a moment where it is normal to think about rotations and very difficult situations for players to play every game. We don’t have [Erik] Lamela and it’s a big loss for us.
“But if that happens then we have to try to cope with it and to fight against injustice. But the way to fight against injustice is to give our best and the boys that are going to play are going to try and get results in it.”
Meanwhile, a fan has been banned for throwing a cup at Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during the game, while investigations into alleged racist abuse towards Rudiger remain ongoing.
The post Son suspension stands as Tottenham lose appeal against red card appeared first on teamtalk.com.
