Former Tottenham Hotspur manager David Pleat has called for greater respect of refereeing decisions and urged Spurs star Dele Alli to keep up his attacking play.
Alli was criticised heavily last weekend as he was booked for diving whilst trying to win a penalty against Liverpool, which is the third time he has been booked for simulation since joining Spurs, and the second time this season.
Fellow Spurs star Harry Kane was also accused of diving to win a penalty against the Reds, although he went on to miss the spot-kick.
Former Tottenham manager Pleat has now urged people to respect refereeing decisions a bit more, and sent a message to Alli to keep up his daring attacking runs.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Pleat said: “Firstly, journalists, managers, pundits, players and supporters should respect the referee’s decisions more. How can we expect a new breed of referees to be introduced if they are constantly berated? They are an honest bunch who will occasionally be found, retrospectively, to have made a mistake. It would be interesting to test all football lovers’ knowledge of the laws of the game. The failure rate would be considerable.
“The fact is that attackers who get into the box have always induced penalties and always will. Bravery, timing and dribbling skills are all major factors that enable Dele Alli to give problems to last-ditch defenders. It’s not so surprising that he gets fouled or tipped off balance when he makes these runs several times in a game. Sometimes the merest touch at close quarters can affect a player’s balance.
“Was anybody that surprised, for example, when the flying Gareth Bale was the recipient of so many free-kicks?England need a fit and worry-free Alli, who must continue to do what he does well. He will also be more than aware of the intense scrutiny his game attracts. With the help of Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, he must be wary but not lose his poaching qualities and drive. Keep getting into that box, young man.”
OPINION
This debate is a tough one, and one that was really brought into focus by the Liverpool v Tottenham match. Jon Moss and his assistants have received considerable abuse since the match for their decisions, but by the letter of the law they were all correct. There were misjudgements made in terms of consulting the TV, which actually never happened, and taking so much time over the decisions, but overall they were good decisions. Moss booked Alli for diving, which was correct, and the Tottenham man must stamp that out of his game. That does not mean that he cannot make his trademark runs into the box, but he just needs to stop diving. It will soon get to a point that referees will not award genuine penalties because of his reputation.