Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has delivered his verdict on the controversial incident involving Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Manchester United defender Luke Shaw.
The incident occurred during Tottenham’s dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Bentancur receiving a straight red card after a heated confrontation with Shaw.
🔥 WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN BENTANCUR AND SHAW?
Bentancur entered the match in the 66th minute as a substitute for Lucas Bergvall. However, his appearance ended in controversy just 12 minutes later.
The Tottenham midfielder was involved in a strong challenge on Shaw, who reacted by forcefully pushing him to the ground.
Bentancur immediately got back to his feet and confronted the Manchester United defender. During the confrontation, the Uruguayan moved his head towards Shaw, prompting referee Stuart Attwell to show him a straight red card for violent conduct.
VAR official Jarred Gillett reviewed the incident and supported the referee’s decision.
Shaw received a yellow card for his part in the confrontation, while Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke was also booked during the ensuing melee.
🗣️ KEITH HACKETT EXPLAINS HIS POSITION
Hackett, a former chief of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), believes referee Stuart Attwell and VAR handled the situation correctly.
He praised the officials for taking time to assess the incident before making their decision.
Hackett argued that Bentancur deserved to be sent off for using his forehead against Shaw. He also acknowledged that Shaw’s forceful push was worthy of a yellow card.
His comments have added to the debate among football supporters, particularly those questioning whether Shaw’s actions should have resulted in a more severe punishment.
Some supporters believe both players should have faced stronger disciplinary action, while others argue that Bentancur’s head movement justified the straight red card.
❌ BENTANCUR TO MISS THREE MATCHES
The dismissal is a significant setback for Tottenham, as Bentancur is expected to miss the next three league matches through suspension.
His absence could force manager Roberto De Zerbi to reconsider his midfield options ahead of the upcoming fixtures against Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Players such as Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mateus Fernandes could have opportunities to feature more prominently during his suspension.
Bentancur will also need to regain his manager’s trust when he becomes available again.
⚪ SOLANKE RESCUES A POINT FOR TOTTENHAM
Despite the controversy, Tottenham showed tremendous determination to avoid defeat.
Manchester United took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo in the 73rd minute, putting the home side in a strong position to claim all three points.
Bentancur’s dismissal five minutes later appeared to make Tottenham’s task even more difficult.
However, Spurs refused to give up. Dominic Solanke scored a dramatic equaliser in the 92nd minute from Sandro Tonali’s cross, securing a valuable 1-1 draw for De Zerbi’s side.
Although Tottenham remain without a Premier League victory this season, their late response demonstrated the fighting spirit the manager wants to see from his players.
👀 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The controversy surrounding Bentancur’s red card is likely to continue, particularly among Tottenham and Manchester United supporters.
While Hackett believes the officials made the correct decision, questions remain among fans about whether Shaw’s reaction deserved a harsher punishment.
WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT, SPURS FANS? 👇
Was Stuart Attwell right to send Bentancur off, or should Luke Shaw also have received a red card?
