“It was not a penalty”- Antonio Conte angry about decision in Tottenham’s draw vs Southampton
Antonio Conte, the manager of Tottenham, was very angry about the penalty kick that was awarded to Southampton by referee Simon Hooper during their 3-3 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.
During the match, Pape Matar Sarr attempted to clear the ball but appeared to miss it and catch Ainsley Maitland-Niles instead. Although some viewers may have initially thought it was a penalty, even after watching it multiple times, many Spurs fans and even some neutral viewers still didn’t believe it was a foul.
It seemed like Sarr was solely focused on the ball and had no intention of making contact with Maitland-Niles.
Maitland-Niles came into the play unexpectedly and it didn’t seem like he would have made any significant contribution to the attack even if he had won the supposed 50-50 challenge with Sarr. Despite this, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed the referee’s decision.
Penalty decision a right call?
Perhaps the referee’s original decision would have been upheld regardless of what he had initially ruled in this situation. It was no surprise that James Ward-Prowse successfully scored the penalty kick into a part of the goal that was virtually impossible for the goalkeeper to save.
As a result, Tottenham Hotspur lost two crucial points in their away game, which could have significant consequences in their pursuit of a top-four finish in the league.
In his post-match comments, Conte expressed his disagreement with the penalty decision but also acknowledged that Spurs had been inadequate in other aspects of the game.
“If we are going to discuss the penalty it means we don’t want to see other situations. For the penalty for me it was not a penalty. I stop, we close the situation. The worst situation is what was happening on the pitch. What has been happening in the last few months, what is happening in my second season.”
Conte may be correct in his evaluation that Tottenham Hotspur has not demonstrated the mentality of a team capable of winning titles throughout the season. However, as the manager, he also bears some responsibility for the team’s performance.
It is possible that the uncertainty surrounding his contract could cause the players to question his loyalty to the club and their trust in the project. If the manager does not believe in the project, it may be difficult for the players to maintain their confidence in it as well.
“It was not a penalty”- Antonio Conte angry about decision in Tottenham’s draw vs Southampton
