MusaGraham Roberts Demands Apology from Howard Webb Over Rodrigo Bentancur’s Controversial Red Card
One of the major talking points from Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United was Rodrigo Bentancur’s controversial dismissal in the 78th minute, just five minutes after Bryan Mbeumo had given the home side the lead.
The Tottenham midfielder had been involved in several strong challenges before being knocked to the ground by Manchester United defender Luke Shaw. After getting back to his feet, Bentancur confronted the United full-back, leaning forward and moving his head towards him.
Shaw subsequently went to ground, prompting referee Stuart Attwell to produce a straight red card for the Uruguayan midfielder. The decision immediately sparked frustration among Bentancur’s Tottenham teammates, who were unhappy with how the incident was handled.
Graham Roberts Calls on Howard Webb to Explain the Decision
Former Tottenham defender and club legend Graham Roberts has now called on Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer, to apologise to Spurs over the controversial decision.
Roberts questioned why Bentancur was sent off while Shaw was allowed to remain on the pitch, despite the Tottenham legend’s concerns about the Manchester United defender’s actions during the confrontation.
Taking to X, Roberts expressed his frustration and called for an explanation from the authorities responsible for officiating in the Premier League.
He wrote: “I hope Howard Webb comes out and apologises to Tottenham regarding the referee and explains why he never sent Luke Shaw off. If you lift your hands to someone’s body and face, that is a red card by the law. But he will hide and say nothing. Bentancur should have stayed down but Stuart Attwell is always against us every time we have him.”
Roberts’ comments reflect the anger surrounding the incident, with the decision likely to remain a subject of debate among Tottenham supporters following the dramatic encounter at Old Trafford.
However, while the Spurs legend believes Shaw should also have faced disciplinary action, the incident has raised further questions among fans about the consistency of refereeing decisions in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi Praises Bentancur’s Reaction Despite His Mistake
Despite acknowledging that Bentancur’s actions were wrong, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi revealed that he embraced the midfielder after the final whistle and thanked him for the fighting spirit he displayed.
The Italian coach made it clear that he did not approve of the midfielder’s reaction to Shaw. Nevertheless, he believes the incident helped spark a change in Tottenham’s performance, with the visitors showing greater determination after being reduced to 10 men.
Spurs refused to surrender despite their numerical disadvantage and eventually found a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, rescuing a point from a match that appeared to be slipping away from them.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, De Zerbi explained why he appreciated Bentancur’s response despite recognising that the midfielder had made a mistake.
“I kissed Rodrigo, and I said thanks, because it’s clear it’s a mistake from Rodrigo, because it’s not the right reaction in football, but now Tottenham needs to react,” the Spurs manager said.
De Zerbi went on to explain that Tottenham appeared to play with greater courage and energy following the sending-off, suggesting that the players responded positively to the difficult situation.
“Sometimes the reactions are not nice, not positive for the team, but I think in that moment, in 10 players, maybe we played with more courage, we played with more energy, and we changed the game. From a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character, and I want it,” he added.
The Tottenham manager also stressed that technical ability alone would not be enough to guarantee success, insisting that his players must combine their quality with determination, intensity and the right mentality.
“Now I am the coach, and I want to see this character every game, because Manchester United in the second half showed character, not just the quality. Just with the quality, we can’t win the games. With the qualities, with the character, with the right energy, I think we are going to win many games, and we are going to score many goals.”
For De Zerbi, the late equaliser represented more than simply salvaging a point at Old Trafford. It also offered an opportunity to highlight the fighting spirit he wants to see from his Tottenham players throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Roberts’ criticism of the refereeing decision has added another dimension to the debate surrounding Bentancur’s dismissal, with Tottenham supporters continuing to question whether the confrontation was handled consistently.
Although Bentancur’s actions ultimately cost Spurs a player for the closing stages, Tottenham’s response demonstrated the resilience De Zerbi wants to build into his team.
Musa
