Doucoure grabs Harry Kane’s face – Harry Kane’s response was embarrassing however anybody would do what he did – Jon Super/AP
An accusation usually levelled in opposition to “the media”, nonetheless you would possibly outline it, is that Harry Kane is usually given a straightforward experience due to his standing as England captain. It will not be true, actually. Kane is commonly praised, sure. But that’s as a result of he usually performs effectively. And as a result of he scores plenty of targets, for membership and nation, which is his job.
In reality, and in opposition to these theorists who imagine in a deep-rooted pro-Kane conspiracy, there are days when his standing as England’s most recognisable footballer works in opposition to him within the court docket of public opinion. One of these days got here on Monday, when Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Everton and Kane discovered himself on the centre of the incident which led to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pink card.
If you haven’t seen it, that is how the occasions unfolded: Kane fouls Demarai Gray, and is then tackled by Doucoure. Kane and Doucoure conflict angrily, till Doucoure throws out a left hand. Doucoure’s fingers make contact with Kane’s face, and the Spurs striker falls to the bottom, his arms protecting his eyes.
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton conflict in the course of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park – Getty Images/Alex Livesey
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur goes down after clashing with Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton in the course of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur – Getty Images/Alex Livesey
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane lays on the ground – PA Wire/Nigel French
Was it an exaggerated response? Absolutely. Was it embarrassing for a participant of Kane’s stature and bodily energy to be tumbling to the turf? Of course it was. But is there one Premier League participant who would have reacted any in another way to such an incident? Almost definitely not. And if a participant did fail to benefit from such a swipe, you may be positive their supervisor would have been livid about it.
Within seconds, the talk had begun — and many individuals gave the impression to be pointing the finger at Kane for his response (see beneath). Would there have been the identical response from the watching public if, say, his Spurs team-mate Clement Lenglet had gone down like that? Would there have been the identical outpouring of discontent if it was Pedro Porro on the bottom? It appears unlikely. It is a back-page story as a result of it’s Kane, and due to who Kane is.
The challenge right here will not be Kane. It is soccer. The sport has reached the purpose the place even comparatively minor contact to the face has grow to be an immediate red-card offence. If extra widespread sense was utilized, as is the case in different sports activities the place bodily contact takes place between emotionally charged athletes, referees would really feel capable of inform everybody off for fooling around, present a yellow card and transfer on. Instead, theatrics are rewarded.
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A correct punch to the face, or another type of genuinely violent conduct, is clearly completely different, however there are gray areas in each side of soccer and there ought to be an acknowledgement throughout the recreation that not all slaps are equal.
It speaks volumes of the scenario that Sean Dyche, the Everton supervisor, and Michael Keane, the Everton defender, each thought it was an apparent dismissal. “That was undoubtedly a pink card,” admitted Keane. “It is a pink card, as a result of he [Doucoure] raised his arms,” mentioned Dyche. “We know that. That is the best way it goes.”
Cristian Stellini, the Spurs appearing head coach, additionally acknowledged what everybody on the pitch knew to be true. “Doucoure’s hand was clearly within the face. I used to be very near the scenario and it was a transparent pink card.”
Those are the foundations of engagement, then. Raise your arms to an opponent’s face, and you might be off. Kane didn’t write these guidelines, and he’s merely taking part in the identical recreation that everybody else has been inspired and allowed to play. This is an issue that runs far deeper than one man — even when that one man occurs to be the England captain.
Pundits divided over Kane’s dive
By Chris Bascombe
Spurs’ caretaker supervisor Cristian Stellini denied that Kane fell too simply after being shoved within the face by Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure at Goodison Park, decreasing them to 10 males within the 58th minute.
“It is regular when the followers are sad, however in my view it was a transparent pink card [for Doucoure]. You have to understand the scenario. If the [Everton] followers are sad with the choice taken, I say it was a very good resolution.
“Lucas’ deal with was harmful and the hand was clearly on the face of Harry. I used to be near it.
Everton supervisor Sean Dyche protested the Doucoure pink card in the course of the recreation, however later agreed that referee David Coote had no choice however to dismiss his midfielder. It was the a hundred and fifth pink card of the Premier League period for Everton, probably the most of any membership.
“You can’t elevate your arms,” mentioned Dyche. “I simply couldn’t perceive why Harry went for the problem. It changed into a problem that didn’t have to be a problem.”
‘He’s embarrassing himself’
Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy have been each important of Kane’s function in getting Doucoure sent-off, main the criticism of what gave the impression to be an overreaction.
Gary Neville, nonetheless, believed that whereas Kane mustn’t have gone to floor like he did, he was in all probability “shocked” by Doucoure’s behaviour.
“There isn’t any debate on the pink card in any respect,” Neville mentioned. “Doucoure places his hand up, the one debate is whether or not Harry Kane ought to go down.
“Harry Kane ought to by no means go to floor. But the one factor I’ve had earlier than is when somebody places the clasp of their claw and it goes a bit bit in your eye it does shock you.”
Carragher mentioned: “Doucoure is improper and I’m positive Dyche will inform him that, however I would not go down there as a participant.
“If I did that on a pitch I’d be embarrassed and if I watched my son try this, yeah it’d assist his group win if the opposition are all the way down to 10 males and it offers them a bonus, however when he obtained again within the automotive I’d say, ‘what are you doing? Don’t ever try this once more on a soccer pitch’.”
‘We are there to win leagues, win video games’
Neville additionally claimed that, had he been on Kane’s aspect, he would have anticipated him to profit from the incident.
“If Harry Kane stands up there…that may have been a yellow as a result of it’s deemed as a hand-off. Harry has gone down, whether or not he ought to have or not, to ensure Doucoure obtained despatched off.
“It is part of the sport folks do not like however in our dressing room, if my ahead [does that] we’re there to win leagues, win video games.”
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s match protection, Murphy joined Carragher in condemning Kane’s actions and accused him of “stitching up” Doucoure.
“[It’s] not sufficient to ship him on the ground; he is embarrassing himself,” Murphy mentioned. “Why’s he gone over like that stitching somebody up? Doucoure would have been despatched off anyway.
“A bit of flick to the face doesn’t ship you to the bottom such as you’ve simply been punched.
“For Kane to go down like that is embarrassing. If my children performed like that I’d apologise and doubtless want to sit down in a darkish room with a chilly flannel on my face.”
