Thomas Frank and Unai Emery could see some of their players handed suspensions following Tottenham’s FA Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that referee Craig Pawson allowed the situation to escalate during the match on Saturday, 10 January. A number of heavy challenges went unpunished, including an early incident in which Xavi Simons avoided a clear yellow card, and tensions continued to rise as the game wore on in North London.
Joao Palhinha was frequently involved in the flashpoints, although he was eventually booked late on for a strong challenge on Morgan Rogers as Spurs slipped to defeat. The midfielder appeared visibly annoyed by several decisions that went against Tottenham and made his frustration clear when Ollie Watkins celebrated in front of him at full time.
Pedro Porro also showed his anger during the contest, and tempers flared after the final whistle, with players and staff from both sides needing to be separated. Although Pawson chose not to issue punishments at the time, Hackett believes the FA may still step in and take retrospective action following the scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Palhinha and Rogers, who had already clashed earlier in the match, could be particularly vulnerable if the authorities decide to review the footage in the coming weeks.
Speaking on Football Insider’s The Final Whistle, Hackett warned that the consequences could be serious for both clubs.
“When incidents like this spill towards the spectators, it only takes one or two overzealous fans to jump the barrier and enter the pitch, and then you have a major issue,” he said.
“I’m confident the FA will charge the clubs this week for failing to control their players. If the footage is reviewed and individual players are identified, especially if the referee says he didn’t see it, retrospective action will follow.
“There’s a real possibility of a significant fine. In my time, clubs could be fined up to £250,000 in the Premier League, although this is the FA Cup. Clubs have agreed that if sanctions are imposed, the players will ultimately cover the cost
