Presenter Max Rushden has flocked to Twitter to comment on the footage of fourth official Craig Pawson following Tottenham Hotspur’s winning goal in Premier League on Saturday evening.
Tottenham picked up a memorable and hugely significant three points at the weekend when Harry Kane netted an added-time winner away to Manchester City to blow the races for the top four and Premier League title wide open.
Will Spurs make the top four?
Yes!
No!
Spurs found themselves 2-1 up heading into added time only for Cristian Romero to give away a penalty, which Riyad Mahrez sublimely put away. But Tottenham didn’t settle for a point, with Manchester City summer transfer target Kane popping up at the back post to snatch all three points at the death.
Rushden, though, was more interested in what happened on the touchline as fourth official Craig Pawson appeared to turn away turned away in disgust when Kane scored and looked more gutted than City manager Pep Guardiola.
The TalkSport man tweeted out: ‘Huge fan of everyone saying this is proof that Craig Pawson and all referees are city fans. It’s obviously nonsense, but I’m scared to say anything at all about officials anymore.’
TIF Thoughts on Spurs’ victory and celebrations…
Heading into the match, Tottenham had lost three straight league matches, which put a huge dent in their chances of qualifying for the top four. However, on a weekend that would see rivals Arsenal and Manchester United pick up three points as well, this result was huge for Spurs.
It was simply a sublime performance by Kane, which may make Guardiola and Man City wonder why they didn’t go all out for the striker they clearly wanted in the summer, as he netted twice and played a stunning pass through for Heung-min Son to set up Dejan Kulusevski, but his last goal was what will have stuck in the minds of everyone, especially Pawson, based off his reaction.
We are with Rushden on this one in that Pawson’s ‘reaction’ has no significance, but we are hardly surprised conspiracy theorists have jumped on the footage. It was a breathless game and it is perhaps most likely that the fourth official was just as taken aback as plenty will have been following the dramatic conclusion to the match.
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