In the 33' Edison Cavani had a goal wiped off after Scott McTominay handed Son Heung-Min in the face. The incident happened far from goal and Cavani scored from the edge of the six-yard box. Son fell to the turf in customary shot-rang-out fashion and stayed down holding his face with both hands, writhing for at least 45'.
VAR slo-mo review. In real time it looked accidental. In slow motion it looked like a deliberate Kung Fu no-look back punch. After the on-field ref watched the VAR replay he ruled an intentional act and gave a yellow card to McTominay. Play resumed in the 36', Son got back up and three minutes later scored, giving Spurs the lead. As he wheeled in celebration there was not a mark on Son's face.
I have a suggestion. If a player goes down like Son did, as Rodri did last week when untouched, and stays down writhing like Uriah Heep in apparent agony, take the lad off for his own safety! Maybe he has an unseeable subdural hematoma! Seriously, when a player stays down like he should have to come off. That would put a stop to these deceptive theatrics.
