- West Ham and Spurs players collided during Saturday’s Premier League match
- Both clubs were charged by the FA for failing to control their players
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Ange Postecoglou has declared that Tottenham do not deserve any additional punishment, despite the club’s acceptance of an FA charge for failing to control their players during Saturday’s 4-1 win against West Ham.
Spurs have agreed to pay a £20,000 fine for their part in a row sparked by Hammers striker Mohamed Kudus’ challenge on Micky van de Ven.
Postecoglou admitted that the Dutch defender’s angry reaction, plus the quick arrival of many of his teammates, ‘didn’t look good’.
But he made it clear he felt Kudus, who saw a yellow card upgraded to red on the pitch on VAR advice after being caught on camera holding a hand in Pape Sarr’s face, was the only had been an aggressor. Both clubs have been charged, and West Ham has until Thursday to respond.
“I’m not really sure what we did wrong other than, yes, there was a meeting, but a few of our players had been drafted by then, so you’d like to think we’d go in there and would at least protect,” Postecoglou said, referring to Richarlison who had also come into contact with Kudus.
Ange Postecoglou has stated that Tottenham do not deserve the FA fine they have accepted
‘I thought our players controlled themselves, but the FA clearly thought differently. I didn’t think there was anything exciting in that game at all – just one player who lost his cool for a moment, Kudus.
“For the most part, I thought there was quite a bit of restraint. I don’t think it looks great, but I don’t think it was anything out of the ordinary.”
“I was obviously a bit angry, I got up and pushed him and then the situation happened from his side,” added Van de Ven, who was booked. ‘He literally hit me in the face and I fell.
“I didn’t really see what happened next. The FA said we should be fined for this. It’s not how I think about it. Come to think of it, it would be a different situation.”
Son Heung-min will be rested on Thursday evening for the Europa League visit to AZ Alkmaar, Van de Ven’s local club, where he was a player for a short time as a youngster.
West Ham and Spurs players clashed in the Premier League on Saturday
Postecoglou stated that he was strongly influenced by the Total Football that the Dutch national team played in the 1970s.
“People talk about my high line, but look at the Dutch in 1974 and you will see something even more radical than me,” he said. I still have a long way to go.’