‘When I see this, I don’t get well’


Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 08:37• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 08:40

No group in the Champions League is as exciting as Group D. Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Portugal, Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympique Marseille all still have a chance to advance to the knockout phase. The Spurs could have taken a big hit on Wednesday evening, had it not been for the fact that Antonio Conte’s team got stuck at home in a 1-1 draw against Sporting. According to Conte, Danny Makkelie is to blame.

Tottenham fell behind halfway through the first half at the hands of Marcus Edwards, former Excelsior player and youth product of the Spurs. The midfielder took out from more than twenty meters and left Hugo Lloris without a chance. After Rodrigo Bentancur’s equalizer, the home team even thought they would run off with the full loot deep in injury time. Harry Kane hit on a pass from Emerson Royal, but that party was spoiled by Makkelie. The Dutch arbitrator rejected the goal on the advice of the VAR due to offside.

In the tumult that ensued, Makkelie gave Conte the red card. The Italian boiled with anger afterwards. “This decision causes great damage,” said the coach. “I would like to know if you can make such decisions at a top club in an important game. I wonder if the VAR has the courage to make this decision. The ball is in front of Kane… I’m sorry, but I’m really upset. You can judge this situation. There is no justice in this kind of situation. When I see this, I don’t get well.”

Conte hopes he can call on people within the club to challenge the red card. “I hope the club understand this and that in the right situation they also talk to the people they need to talk to, otherwise it’s only the manager who speaks,” he seemed to be asking for help. “I think the club must be strong, because I repeat that this situation is causing great, great damage. Now the question is what will happen next week. I want to see it when we play a difficult away game (against Olympique Marseille , ed.).”