Former referee explains whether Cristian Romero should have been sent off vs Newcastle

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that he did not like Cristian Romero’s challenge on Callum Wilson but insisted that it did not jump out to him as a red card offence. Romero only returned from his three-match suspension last week after receiving a red card for his challenge on Enzo Fernandez in […]

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that he did not like Cristian Romero’s challenge on Callum Wilson but insisted that it did not jump out to him as a red card offence.

Romero only returned from his three-match suspension last week after receiving a red card for his challenge on Enzo Fernandez in the London derby last month.

On what was just his second game back on Sunday, the centre-back risked being sent off again as he made a reckless challenge on Callum Wilson in the 80th minute, with his studs catching the Newcastle striker on the ankle.

Referee Chris Kavanagh gave the Tottenham man a yellow but several pundits, including the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Redknapp and Michael Dawson have suggested that the 25-year-old was very lucky to escape a red card (Sky Sports via The Mirror).

Should Romero have seen red against Newcastle?

However, Gallagher believes that Kavanagh made the right call, expressing his surprise at the fact that so many pundits are baying for more red cards, given the massive uptick we have already seen in sending-offs this season.

The former PL referee told Sky Sports about Romero’s challenge: “It didn’t leap out to me as a red card but a lot of people have said since it is. It’s quite amazing how everybody’s gone red card challenges now.

“We’ve had 31 red cards after 14 rounds of football, only 30 last season altogether. I think that’s the thing people say, he does a double-take. It’s not wise. I don’t know why people do that. As I say, it’s amazing how the red cards are mounting up and people want more and more.”

Stephen Warnock was shocked by Gallagher’s assessment, opining that it was a clear red card challenge.

The former Aston Villa man responded: “I’m absolutely gobsmacked you’ve said that’s not a red card. That it doesn’t leap out at you as a red card.

“I just don’t understand that at all. As soon as I saw that I thought ‘how’s he not gone for that?’ How do you not see that as a clear and obvious error? It’s just absolutely baffling how that’s not a red card.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Romero’s challenge would have received a red card 7 out of 10 times as it was extremely reckless. The Tottenham man immediately knew what he had done and was quite apologetic about it, which perhaps saved him.  

There is no doubt that he was extremely lucky and I fully expect Postecoglou to point that to the centre-back and to let him know in stern terms that he is letting his teammates down by doing this.

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