Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov were left torn over the referee’s decision not to dismiss Micky van de Ven for a late challenge on Georges Mikautadze in Tottenham Hotspur’s victory over Villareal.
Thomas Frank’s first Champions League game was far from a blockbuster, but Spurs eventually ran out 1-0 winners after a hard-fought clash.
The game’s only goal came early in the first half when Lucas Bergvall whipped a ball in to the box from the right which was spilled into his own net by visiting goalkeeper Luiz Junior.
Villareal huffed and puffed trying to get themselves back in the game, with former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe looking particularly dangerous, but were ultimately unable to claw one back.
The result however could have been very different had Rade Obrenovic chosen to dismiss Spurs defender Van de Ven as the match neared its close.
The VAR debate was sparked after Albert Moleiro played Villareal substitute Georges Mikatadze through on goal, with the Georgian eventually taken down by the home side’s defender on the edge of the penalty box.
Thomas Frank won his first Champions League game in charge of Tottenham Hotspur against Villareal on Tuesday
The result however could have been very different had Micky van de Ven been dismissed for a challenge on Georges Mikautadze
With the Villareal bench and players pleading for a straight red, the referee ultimately opted to hand van de Ven a yellow, a decision which divided opinion in the Amazon Sports studio post-match.
Berbatov, a former Spurs striker, argued: ‘I think Spurs were lucky with this one, to escape with nothing.’
Before Rooney countered: ‘I think it’s a yellow card and the right decision was made. The ball is going away and the goalkeeper is in a good position. I think if the referee gives a red, it doesn’t get overturned.’
Speaking to reporters post-match, Van de Ven was of the same opinion as Rooney but admitted he was worried about being dismissed at the time.
‘Of course, you never know what the referee is going to do in that moment,’ he said.
‘I think because I go for the ball it’s not a red card. I haven’t seen it back properly, so I can’t say what I think at the moment.’
The 23-year-old, who is so crucial to his side’s defence when fit, hailed the victory as an ‘important’ one.
‘I think it was a tough one,’ he added.
Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney were torn over the referee’s decision not to dismiss Van de Ven
Van de Ven admitted he was concerned about being given his marching orders following the challenge
‘We didn’t play well today but it was an important one. We had a really good start and of course you want to build on that but Villareal are a really difficult team to play against.
‘Also, every time on the counter-attack they keep strikers forward, they’re really dangerous. Of course you want to build on the 1-0 at the start of the game but at the end we got the three points and that’s the most important.
‘I think we are a difficult team to play against, for sure. Structure-wise we are standing really good and we all know what to do, so we’re a difficult team to beat.’
The win’s a significant one for Tottenham and Thomas Frank with difficult European fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund to come.
This weekend they travel south to face Brighton & Hove Albion in a Premier League fixture.
Spurs currently sit third in the table on nine points having lost just one of Frank’s opening four league games at the helm.
