Garth Crooks has called on Moussa Sissoko to apologise to Nathan Redmond for his conduct in Tottenham’s defeat to Southampton on Saturday.
The France international put his head into the face of the Saints attacker as tempers frayed in the second half of Spurs’ 2-1 loss at St Mary’s Stadium.
Former Spurs striker Crooks was unimpressed by Sissoko, claimed his behaviour was unacceptable and that he is highly fortunate that Redmond did not go to ground following the contact.
“I hope Moussa Sissoko has apologised to Nathan Redmond and said thank you to the Southampton forward for staying on his feet after Sissoko put his head in his face, ” Crooks wrote in his BBC Sport team of the week column. “Some players would have gone down and he’d be facing a ban.”
OPINION
Sissoko was very fortunate not to have been sent off against Southampton. The Frenchman has previous when it comes to squaring up to opponents, and he crossed the line by thrusting his head into Redmond’s face, albeit without actually hurting his opponent. It was totally unnecessary and came at a time when Spurs were chasing the game and needed cool heads, not to be losing them. Sissoko deserves immense credit for his transformation over the last six months and turning around his career in north London. There wouldn’t have been a bookmaker out there willing to take odds on that possibility at the start of the season, but his occasional rushes of blood are unhelpful. Given his experience and age, the France international should know better than to get involved with Redmond, and was lucky to escape with a yellow card from referee Kevin Friend rather than a straight red that would have incurred a three-match ban.