Ex-FIFA official blasts Abdoulaye Doucoure after Everton controversy v Tottenham, shares David Coote verdict
Former FIFA official Keith Hackett has blasted Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure for his red card against Tottenham at Goodison Park on Monday (3 April).
Doucoure pushed his hand into the face of Spurs striker Harry Kane just before the hour mark, with referee David Coote showing the Toffees ace a straight red card.
The visitors also finished the match with 10 men as substitute Lucas Moura saw red for a nasty challenge on Everton goalscorer Michael Keane.
“When are players in the Premier League going to set an example to youngsters who play at grassroots level.” former professional referee Hackett Tweeted.
“David Coote had no alternative other than to issue the two red cards in the Everton v Spurs game. You put your hand(s) in the face of an opponent then expect the red card.”
Deserved red
With the hosts admirably holding Spurs to a goalless draw for the first 58 minutes of the match, Doucoure lost his cool in a moment of madness to push Kane in the face, with the striker immediately going to ground.
The Toffees midfielder was angered by a late challenge from the Spurs man on Demarai Gray, but there is no excuse for Doucoure’s actions.
Hopefully the Everton midfielder will learn from his mistake as he prepares for a three-match ban, where he will miss the league meetings with Manchester United, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
He has definitely let his teammates, his manager and indeed himself down with the red card, with the Toffees right in the thick of a relegation battle for the second successive season.
The Merseyside outfit stayed up by just four points last time out, with the club currently just one point off the relegation places this time around.
They will definitely feel Doucoure’s absence in the coming matches, with the midfielder enjoying a fine individual campaign so far.