Tottenham appeal Son Heung-min red card for challenge leading to horror injury to Andre Gomes
TOTTENHAM have submitted their appeal against Son Heung-min’s red card given after his foul led to Andre Gomes’ horror injury.
The London club are expected to know by the end of the week whether his three-match ban will be upheld.
The South Korean was sent off by referee Martin Atkinson after his challenge caused the Everton star to suffer a broken and dislocated right ankle.
Atkinson had initially planned to show Son a yellow but the severity of the injury saw him change his decision to a straight red card.
Spurs are appealing against the Korean’s dismissal, with a back-up option of arguing that the automatic three-match ban is an excessive penalty. A hearing will take place this week.
Son, 27, was left inconsolable following the injury and was in floods of tears inside the Spurs dressing room.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino labelled Atkinson’s decision to show his star forward a red card as “unbelievable.”
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And after the game the Argentine boss hinted that the club were ready to appeal Son’s red.
He said: “It was clear it was never the intention of Son to create the problem that happened afterwards.
“It is unbelievable to see a red card. In that situation we need to help because the decision of the referee was a yellow card but the VAR changed the decision.
“It is the latest example of it being not clear. VAR needs to check if it was a bad tackle from Son and judge the action, not what happened after.
“I don’t know what will happen now (in terms of an appeal). The club will see if it is possible but what we cannot change is what happened after (the incident).”
If the decision is upheld, Son will miss the Premier League fixtures at home to Sheffield United, away at West Ham and at home to Bournemouth.
After the game, the Premier League released a statement explaining why the colour of the card had been upgraded.
It read: “The red card for Son was for endangering the safety of a player which happened as a consequence of his initial challenge.”
SunSport reported on Monday afternoon how Gomes had successfully undergone an operation on his fractured and dislocated ankle.
It appeared that Gomes’ leg got caught in the turf as he landed awkwardly in the 78th minute.
EVERTON EXPECT FULL RECOVERY
Son’s tackle forced him to ground, with Serge Aurier then colliding with the former Barcelona ace just as he hit the deck.
Seamus Coleman instantly called for medics to treat his team-mate, as Cenk Tosun cradled Gomes’ head as he laid screaming on the floor.
A statement from his employers said: “Everton Football Club can confirm Andre Gomes underwent surgery to repair a fracture dislocation to his right ankle earlier today and the procedure went extremely well.
“Andre will now spend some time recovering in hospital, before returning to USM Finch Farm to start his rehabilitation under the guidance of the club’s medical staff.
“He is expected to make a full recovery.
“On behalf of Andre, the club would like to thank all Everton supporters and members of the wider football family for the overwhelming messages of support we have received since yesterday’s match.”
Latest News on Ande Gomes
In the aftermath of the unsavoury incident, Son was targeted with abuse by trolls on Instagram.
One branded the distraught Tottenham midfielder a “butcher” and a “killer” while another warned him that karma would strike.