MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 14:33:33| >> :600:364588:364588:
Dec 22, 2019 at 4.30pm UK at ​Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Attendance: 61,104
SpursTottenham Hotspur
0-2
Chelsea

Heung-min (62')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Willian (12', 45' pen.)

Jose Mourinho claims scrutiny should be on Antonio Rudiger rather than Son

Jose Mourinho claims scrutiny should be on Antonio Rudiger rather than Son
© Reuters
Tottenham forward Son was sent off for kicking out at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.

Jose Mourinho believes Antonio Rudiger should be the one under scrutiny for his role in Son Heung-min's red card, rather than the Tottenham player.

The South Korean was dismissed in the second half of Sunday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea when VAR showed he kicked out at Rudiger in retaliation to being fouled.

Referee Anthony Taylor did not penalise Son, but VAR official Paul Tierney decided differently and advised Taylor to issue a red card.

Spurs have appealed against the decision, which led to the alleged racist abuse of the Chelsea defender, and are waiting to hear from the Football Association whether their player must serve a three-match ban.

But Mourinho, who sarcastically wished Rudiger well in his recovery from "broken ribs" after the game, says the German's over-the-top reaction should be in focus.

"I hope the Premier League is still the Premier League and will always be the Premier League and I think the focus should be on Antonio Rudiger and not on Son," Mourinho said.

"I'm not speaking about the racism incident, this is another thing. I am speaking about that incident, the red card.

"In the Premier League I love there is no space also for what Rudiger did. Stand up and play man. This is the Premier League.

"In some countries, especially now Latin cultures, you go to Latin America, Portugal, Spain, Italy and that happens, it is a cultural thing, but not in the Premier League, and the moment we try to punish the reaction of some player, insignificant reaction, but you try to punish and you let it go the other one, it is because then you become part of it (complicit).

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Son Heung-min, centre, was sent off for kicking Antonio Rudiger (Nick Potts/PA)

"That's why I was trying to joke and making a bit of fun about it.

"Come on, do you think Rudiger plays the next game or do you think he's injured? I think he plays.

"And we speak about Son and don't speak about him."

Nevertheless, it is Son's third red card of 2019 for a petulant act as he was sent off for pushing Jefferson Lerma at Bournemouth last season, then for a tackle on Everton's Andre Gomes in November that broke the midfielder's ankle.

Spurs also appealed against both dismissals, winning the latter.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Jose Mourinho consoled Son following his red card (Nick Potts/PA)

Mourinho does not think Son has a temper problem, however, and insisted he was in control against Rudiger.

"A tiny reaction is an emotional reaction but is still an emotional reaction with control," the Portuguese said.

"I don't think it is different, what happened with (Mateo) Kovacic and Dele (Alli) (both players booked for grappling), with what happened with Son and Rudiger.

"For me the insignificant is insignificant. To send somebody home and to stop him doing his work and be on the pitch is not about insignificant, it is about significant.

"If you do an accumulation of insignificance then is when you arrive at the accumulation of yellow cards and you have two yellow cards for insignificant fouls you go out.

"But when you do in the game one insignificant foul that is not a red card, that is a yellow card."

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Antonio Rudiger

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Antonio Rudiger in action for Chelsea on November 4, 2018
Read Next:
Vertonghen apologises for 'disgraceful' Rudiger racist abuse
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18171046143252
2Leicester CityLeicester19123441182339
3Manchester CityMan City19122552232938
4Chelsea1910273327632
5Wolverhampton WanderersWolves197932924530
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs198563427729
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd197842317629
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd197753023728
9Crystal Palace197571721-426
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle197481928-925
11Arsenal195952528-324
12Burnley197392330-724
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton206592428-423
14Everton196492129-822
15Southampton1963102337-1421
16Bournemouth2055102028-820
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham185492030-1019
18Aston Villa1953112533-818
19Watford1927101233-2113
20Norwich CityNorwich1933131938-1912

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!